Saturday Nov 30, 2024
Saturday Nov 30, 2024
Saturday, 30 November 2024 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Rohitha Bogollagama (left) with M&S Chairman Archie Norman during their meeting this week in London
Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Rohitha Bogollagama this week met Marks & Spencer (M&S) Chairman Archie Norman and impressed upon him to expand the supply chain from Sri Lanka.
While briefing on the recent positive changes in Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Bogollagama stressed the importance of Sri Lanka being considered for multiple sources of exports to the UK and M&S, covering apparel and the food industry.
Today, M&S has grown to be a multifaceted retailer in the UK, with a gigantic platform for sourcing goods across the world, not only for clothing, fashion products, but also for food items. High Commissioner Bogollagama invited M&S on the Sri Lanka supply chain to source food as a new area from Sri Lanka, including fresh fruits, processed food, coconut products, and Ceylon Tea being introduced through falling new investment. With regard to the fresh fruits, the interest of M&S to develop trade links with Sri Lankan high-quality mango, pineapple, avocado, durians, and soursop, and to connect with the M&S supply chain to be sustainable as well as with a year-round supply was mentioned.
Having referred to the longstanding export trade relation of Sri Lanka with M&S and the collaborations on clothing and its value chain in South Asia, High Commissioner Bogollagama brought Sri Lanka’s concerns over apparel exports to the UK, including the stringent rules of origin on apparel under the UK’s preferential trade concessions to Sri Lanka and also Sri Lanka’s requests already made on possible flexibilities sought from the UK authorities. In response, the M&S Chairman wanted to assist the due process by the UK for the reconsideration of Sri Lanka’s request.
The M&S Chairman also further mentioned their plans to consolidate M&S operations in Asia and in Sri Lanka, as they are to take this opportunity as a welcome to look at a stable destination in South Asia and East Asia in making a consolidation-hub in their global value chain.
