Swedish experts to help boost Sri Lankan exports to Sweden

Three Swedish trade experts will be arriving in Colombo next week to help Sri Lankan exporters striving to enter the Swedish market.
The Department of Commerce (DoC) has made arrangements to bring in experts from the Swedish National Board of Trade to meet Sri Lankan exporters in Colombo on February 15. “Sweden – Sri Lanka bilateral trade was at US$64 million in 2015. This shows that there is strong unrealised trade potential for both countries,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen in a media release on Tuesday. “DoC’s presentations to our exporters is a great first step to open new trade and diversify present trade.” 
The DoC information session in collaboration with the Swedish National Board of Trade for Lankan exporters will be held at the World Trade Centre, Colombo at 10 am. Among the topics of presentations are information on the Swedish market for food products for the private labelling industry (with special focus on dried coconut products, fruits and vegetables, spices including cinnamon, tea and organic food products), rules and regulations when exporting food products of non-animal origin to Sweden and the EU, the EU GSP+ and sustainable development services by the Swedish National Board of Trade to the exporters of Sri Lanka and the potential for Sri Lankan food exports to Swedish and Nordic markets.   
Currently, apparel, rubber and transformers are Sri Lanka’s main exports to Sweden while telephone sets, craft paper, paperboard and gold are the leading imports to Sri Lanka from Sweden.