India-Sri Lanka to set up joint working group on textiles

Earlier Sri Lanka had well developed textile industry consisting handlooms, Powerlooms, fabric and cotton industries. But all these sectors were closed down after Sri Lanka introduced free economic policies said Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Adviser to the President and Minister of Economic Development when he met the Indian Textile Industry delegation at the Ministry of Economic Development.

A high level Indian delegation headed by Smt. Kiran Dhingra, secretary to the Ministry of Textile of India is currently in Sri Lanka in order to have a joint programme on textile industry between Sri Lanka and India.

At the outset, Hon. Minister thanked Hon. Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles of India for the immediate action taken by him to strengthen the economic relations between the two countries since his visit to Sri Lanka on 2nd August 2012.

Minister Rajapaksa said at the meeting he had with the Hon. Anand Sharma they agreed to give special attention to two sectors namely, pharmaceutical sector and textile sector. Immediately after his return to India first he sent a delegation to discuss on pharmaceutical industry. Now he has sent this delegation on textile industry.

He thanked the Minister Anand Sharma for his efficiency and interest taken on Sri Lanka.

Hon. Basil Rajapaksa thanked India for granting Sri Lanka additional apparel quota of 5 million pieces under Indo – Sri Lanka free trade agreement with no restrictions on fabric sourcing. He appreciated the efforts taken by India for sectoral liberalization of both apparel and textile under the Indo – Sri Lanka free trade Agreement.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka will welcome India’s help to revive the handloom and power loom industries. These two industries were closely related to the rural community of Sri Lanka. Under the “Divi Naguma” backyard Economy Development Programme these two sectors will develop providing opportunities for employment, skill development and entrepreneurship development for rural people. Handloom sector is confronted with problems such as inadequate yarn supply, poor designs and small markets.

Sri Lanka had several large scale fabric production mills earlier. But all of them are not functioning now. Both countries can have a joint programme to renew the fabric production in Sri Lanka since there is a big demand for fabric from the apparel sector as well as local consumers. Sri Lankan government alone spend large amount of money to import fabric for school uniform annually Minister said.