Thursday, 12 December 2013 00:00
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Barely a month’s time after the Com-monwealth Business Forum, which took place in parallel to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has initiated a mission to Seychelles consisting of senior level private sector business entities from Sri Lanka. The delegation will leave to Seychelles in the early January of 2014.The 34 member strong business delegation will represent Agro products, especially fruits and vegetables, hotel supplies, boats, nutritional supplies, processed food items, dairy products, horticulture products, industrial gloves, cold rooms, power cables, outdoor furniture, paints, garments, tea, rice and noodles. In addition, there will be a promotion of tourism, travel, manpower consultancy, recruitment services and IT services.
Seychelles High Commissioner Waven William, based in India has taken a keen interest in this initiative and met the business leaders on 2 December who have expressed their interest to join the mission. The meeting took place at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce during his visit to Sri Lanka.
One of the major challenges for the exports on Sri Lankan fruits and vegetables to support the Seychelles tourism industry was the quarantine clearance for fruits and vegetables in Seychelles. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is working closely with the Head of Plant Quarantine Sri Lanka as well as the National Plant Quarantine Office of Seychelles in this regard. As a result, Randy Stravens of National Plant Protection Office (NPPO), Seychelles within a short period of time confirmed that the Pest Risk Analysis for ten fruits and vegetables has been cleared to issue import permits. Meanwhile the NPPO in Seychelles is in the process of obtaining clearance for nine more fruits and vegetables.
Safeguarding food produce and agriculture
In his view, William stated, “As an island nation similar to Seychelles, Sri Lankans will understand our concern in safeguarding our food produce and our agriculture from possible risks.” He also stated that he will closely work with the relevant authority to get the clearance and ease the exports of fruits and vegetables to Seychelles.
Ceylon chamber of Commerce CEO/ Secretary General Harin Malwatte said, “The connectivity between Seychelles and Sri Lanka with Mihin Lanka flying twice a week to Seychelles will boost a possible trade while the national airline will also benefit with increased passenger traffic and air cargo. With the high power business delegation, we are hopeful that there will be successful business contracts that could be negotiated during our visit.”
The recently launched project (STDF 354) is a unique private public partnership initiated by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to improve the safety and quality of Sri Lankan fruits and vegetables. Funding for this project was organised through the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in collaboration with the International Trade Commission (ITC) while the counterpart funding is channelled from the DOA and the CCC. Other main stakeholders include the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka Standards institute (SLSI), Lanka Fruits and Vegetable Producers Processors Exporters Association (LFVPPEA), the National Agribusiness Council (NAC) and the fruit and vegetable growing farmers.
The outcome of this project will enhance the quality and safety of our fruits and vegetables and contribute to the export completive of our fruits and vegetables.
