Sri Lanka-Azerbaijan promote ties on exports and tourism

Azerbaijan’s Government is taking steps to strengthen ties with Sri Lanka, promoting investment and encouraging their tourists to visit Sri Lanka, a statement from the Economic Development Ministry said yesterday.  Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa held a lengthy official discussion on economic cooperation and tourism promotion to strengthen bilateral relations, during the former’s visit ongoing visit to Sri Lanka.

The discussions between the two ministers also focused on Sri Lankan tea exports to Azerbaijan where there is a great demand for the island’s tea.

Last year Sri Lanka exported US$ 47 million of tea to Azerbaijan. 

Measures to increase exports of tea, rubber and coconut products to Azerbaijan will be taken soon, according to Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The possibility of exporting non-traditional products like furniture, cutlery, paper products, plastic containers and garments will also be explored.

“Since Azerbaijan’s per capita income is around US$ 10,200, most of her citizens are keen to travel abroad,” Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said. Hence there is a greater opportunity to attract Azerbaijani tourists to Sri Lanka, a country well-known for its natural and other attractions, according to him.  He also made a request for starting direct flights between Colombo and Baku, the statement said.

During an earlier meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the possibility of importing oil from Azerbaijan was also discussed.

Sri Lanka was among the countries that supported Azerbaijan’s candidature for Azerbaijan’s two-year membership at the UN Security Council, which began last January.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries commenced in 1992.

Since the end of the three-decade war in 2009 Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has boomed, attracting more than one million arrivals in 2012.