Plans Underway to Establish Sri Lanka–Nepal Business Forum…

A special discussion was held between the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti, and the Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka, Dr. Purna Bahadur, at the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development on July 9.

The Minister and the Ambassador exchanged views on the current political, economic and social issues in Sri Lanka and Nepal, and emphasized the importance of establishing a Sri Lanka-Nepal Business Forum between the two countries, with the aim of further expanding the existing trade relations between Sri Lanka and Nepal. At this, Minister Sunil Handunnetti briefed the Ambassador of Nepal, Dr. Purna Bahadur, on the trade relations that Sri Lanka maintains with other countries in the region as well as with countries outside the region such as China.

The Minister and Nepalese Ambassador Bahadur also discussed at length the possibility of entering into a free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and Nepal, including goods such as gems and jewelry, mineral sand, phosphate, rice, sugar, and garments. At this meeting, Minister Sunil Handunnetti invited Nepalese buyers to attend the “Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition” planned to be held in Ratnapura in August.