“South Africa could be a good trading partner for Sri Lanka” High Commissioner says at the NCCSL

At a seminar held on 27 July 2011 at the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) Geoff Doidge, High Commissioner of South Africa in Sri Lanka pointed out that his country could be a good trading partner to Sri Lanka. Presently Sri Lanka exports products such as tea, rubber, garments, lentils, coconut products, toys, jewellery, ceramics etc. The total value of exports from Sri Lanka to South Africa in 2010 was around US$ 20 mn. At the same time Sri Lanka also imports products such as iron, steel, paper, magnesium, oil and mineral from South Africa.

The High Commissioner said both Sri Lanka and South Africa are in the Non aligned movement from the beginning and both countries have been maintaining a very good relationship. Hence there is a high potential for our two nations to increase the volume of trade. South Africa is rich in agriculture, production of metal and chemicals. The country is also located in a strategic shipping location and Sri Lanka will have a good opportunity to invest in South Africa. South Foreign direct investments in South Africa are protected by the country’s constitution.

South Africa has a good market for bicycles as many people, especially school children there use push bicycles which the South African Government promotes heavily. Another area that has high potential for bilateral trade is tourism. High Commissioner observed that Sri Lanka after gaining peace demonstrated a high potential for inbound tourism and invited Sri Lanka Tour Operators to promote Sri Lanka as a potential tourist destination for South African tourists. He also mentioned that his country too invites tourist from Sri Lanka especially to Cape Town which he said was one of the most beautiful cities in the world. South Africa is a market with 49 million people and a member of the US Security Council. It is the world leader in coal based synthesis and gas to liquid technologies.