The Hindu : Sri Lankan trade centre to be opened in Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sri Lankan trade centre to be opened in Chennai

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, FEB. 21. The first trade centre of Sri Lanka for showcasing a range of consumer products will open in Chennai on February 26.

Initially, 13 companies will display their wares at the permanent trade portal of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board on 20,000 square feet in Spencer Plaza. Modelled on a common marketplace, the centre will stock and sell a few brands of Sri Lankan tea, biscuits, garments, fashion jewellery, personal care products, footwear, toys, tiles, herbal products, cooked and frozen meat products.

``We have room (to accommodate) for 17 companies,'' said Sumith Nakandala, Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner.

Addressing a press meet here yesterday, he said the objective of the centre was to take the products closer to the consumers. It would also provide an opportunity for the partner-manufacturing companies to test the Indian market and gain acceptance of the products by the consumers.

Describing it as one of the most important landmark in the bilateral relations between the two nations, he said G.L. Peiris and Ravi Karunanayake, two Ministers from Sri Lanka, and S. Semmalai, Tamil Nadu Education Minister, would be participating in the inauguration of the centre. H.M.B. Herath, counsellor (commercial) at the Deputy High Commission, said Indian exports to the island had increased from Sri Lankan Rs. 33,000 million in 1997 to SL Rs. 79,000 million in 2002. Exports from the island to India grew from SL Rs. 2,500 million in 1997 to SL Rs. 16,000 million in 2002.

Similar trade centres were proposed in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, said J. Sittampalam of Cameron Pale and Medina, PR (public relations) agency for the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

`Green corridor' project suffers a silent death

Satellite image helps Corporation detect property under-declaration

CM orders rescue of two camels

Revised wages for Tamil, Telugu film technicians

Man fatally knocked down

Sri Lankan trade centre to be opened in Chennai

Around the City

In Chennai Today