{"id":31997,"date":"2025-07-23T14:25:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T08:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/?p=31997"},"modified":"2025-07-23T15:13:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T09:43:00","slug":"plans-underway-to-establish-sri-lanka-nepal-business-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/plans-underway-to-establish-sri-lanka-nepal-business-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"Plans Underway to Establish Sri Lanka\u2013Nepal Business Forum&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"31997\" class=\"elementor elementor-31997\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4cbcb25 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"4cbcb25\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dce023d\" data-id=\"dce023d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-065310d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"065310d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e0c5c21\" data-id=\"e0c5c21\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80ae99a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"80ae99a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Plans Underway to Establish Sri Lanka\u2013Nepal Business Forum<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aefa433 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"aefa433\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8594b4a\" data-id=\"8594b4a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42f866b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42f866b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>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.<\/p><p>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.<\/p><p>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 &#8220;Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition&#8221; planned to be held in Ratnapura in August.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2bdeb22 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"2bdeb22\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bab8f0f\" data-id=\"bab8f0f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c9a6e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9c9a6e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"800\" height=\"502\" src=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.24-PM-1024x643.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-31998\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.24-PM-1024x643.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.24-PM-300x188.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.24-PM-768x482.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.24-PM-1536x965.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.24-PM.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64cb479 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"64cb479\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"404\" src=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.23-PM-1024x517.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-31999\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.23-PM-1024x517.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.23-PM-300x152.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.23-PM-768x388.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.23-PM-1536x776.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.23-PM.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fefbd0e\" data-id=\"fefbd0e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1da143 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e1da143\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.21-PM-1024x640.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-32002\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.21-PM-1024x640.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.21-PM-300x188.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.21-PM-768x480.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.21-PM-1536x960.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.21-PM.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d613e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2d613e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1024x574.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-32001\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1024x574.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-768x431.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1536x861.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fba9da1\" data-id=\"fba9da1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70d252b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"70d252b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1-1024x657.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-32000\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1-1024x657.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1-300x192.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1-768x492.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1-1536x985.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.22-PM-1.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cb5c1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3cb5c1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.20-PM-1024x664.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-32003\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.20-PM-1024x664.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.20-PM-300x195.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.20-PM-768x498.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.20-PM-1536x996.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-23-at-1.25.20-PM.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plans Underway to Establish Sri Lanka\u2013Nepal 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 &#8220;Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition&#8221; planned to be held in Ratnapura in August.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32002,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31997"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32046,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31997\/revisions\/32046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.industry.gov.lk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}