COLOMBO: The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said it is looking at importing sugar from Thailand in the backdrop of sugar imports from Brazil being put on hold due to smuggling of cocaine.
According to details, the ministry, which is set to conclude a Sri Lanka-Thai FTA study in August this year, is in talks with Mitr Phol Sugar Corp Ltd, one of Thailand’s largest sugar exporters.
Sri Lanka has also requested for technical assistance from Thailand for gem and jewelry, food processing, agriculture, electronics and automobile components.
When minister Bathiyutheen met with the Thai exporters of consumer goods to Sri Lanka (sprats, rice, canned fish, green gram, sago seeds, shoes, and vehicle parts), he claimed that the Ministry will be opening 80 Sathosa outlets.
Hence, he called the meeting in order to identify suppliers of consumer goods, to educate them about expectations of Sathosa and also to get the feedback from suppliers to improve the importing system of Sathosa. The minister requested for samples and prices of rice and sprats from the exporters.
The industry encouraged direct purchasing from importers, after identifying trustworthy direct importers, which might be useful to maintain the quality of the imports.
