COLOMBO – South Africa is keen to obtain assistance from Sri Lankan craftsmen to develop its jewellery industry, outgoing South African High Commissioner in Colombo, Robina P. Marks, told Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, when she called on him at the Foreign Ministry on Friday (4).
She also informed Gunawardena that the South African supermarket chain, SPAR, has made arrangements to expand up to 20 units in Sri Lanka and emphasized on the availability of containers that import goods from South Africa to be used to export Sri Lankan products to the South African Market upon their return.
Foreign Minister Gunawardena, for his part, sought South African expertise in the canning industry for the food and vegetable industry in Sri Lanka, as around 40% of the harvest is wasted due to technology gaps in this field. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in trade, investment and tourism sectors between the two countries.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two parties also discussed further expanding tea exports to the African continent through the South African distribution network.
Gunawardena also thanked the High Commissioner for her immense contribution in further consolidating relations between Sri Lanka and South Africa in all spheres.
-ENCL