Summary:

• Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi, held talks with Nepal’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Purna Bahadur.
• The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
• Discussions covered current political, economic, and social developments in both Sri Lanka and Nepal.
• Ambassador Bahadur emphasized the importance of establishing a Sri Lanka–Nepal Business Council to boost and expand bilateral trade relations.
• Minister Handunneththi briefed the ambassador on Sri Lanka’s trade engagements both regionally and beyond, including with China.
• They discussed the potential for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Nepal, focusing on goods such as gems and jewellery, mineral sands, phosphate, rice, sugar, and garments.
• An invitation was extended to Nepalese buyers to participate in the upcoming “Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition” scheduled for August.

The article highlights ongoing efforts to deepen economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Nepal through trade agreements and business collaboration.

Archive: https://archive.md/p2OYY