The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka, has communicated with the top rung Chambers and retailers of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Gulf countries, offering to supply from Sri Lanka, products which were being supplied by China.
“This a proactive move to counter the deleterious impact that the Covid 19 has had on Sri Lanka’s Import and Export Business, National Chamber of Exporters CEO, M.S. Marikar (Pictured) told ‘Daily News Finance’ yesterday.
He also said that the NCE has offered the Trade Chambers in the US, UK and the Gulf countries to export from Sri Lanka, the products that these countries were hitherto importing from China and which have been stopped due to Covid 19 badly hitting China and with most of the Chinese factories being closed due to the viral epidemic.
Some of the Sri Lankan products that could have prospects in those markets are apparel, footwear, and agricultural products such as tea, rubber and spices.
The NCE has also informed its members not to depend merely on Chinese suppliers for raw materials and to look for other suppliers of raw materials in other regional countries such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Vietnam.
“This would be an opportunity for us during these difficult times. There is nothing like trying and our efforts might bring in new opportunities in our export portfolio”, he said.
“The National Chamber of Exporters was to send a 12-15 member business delegation to England in April but had to postpone the tour till September due to the Covid 19 outbreak”, he said. This multi-sectorial delegation was to include members form the apparel, Plastics, Rubber, Organic Spices, Tea and gems and jewellery sectors. “They were to have meetings with the London Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce as well.”
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