KARACHI: Sri Lanka Trade Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardhane on Thursday said the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has contributed moderately but the real potential of boosting bilateral trade still needs to be achieved by both countries under the pact.

Leading a Sri Lankan delegation during a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mr Gunawardhane said that despite the debilitating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on all businesses in 2020, Sri Lanka’s total exports to Pakistan reached $74 million, of which $53m – 73 per cent – took place under the FTA.

Pakistan was the only market for Sri Lankan betel leaves which is mostly associated with the income of the rural population of Sri Lanka.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2022