KARACHI, Jan 19: Sri Lanka has invited manufacturers and exporters of knitwear and sweaters to participate in the forthcoming trade fair “Imexpro 2006” being held in March to explore the possibilities of entering into joint ventures with Lankan businessmen. During a meeting with the members of Pakistan Knitwear and Sweater Exporters Association (Paksea) here on Thursday, Consul General of Sri Lanka Ms Manel De’Silva expressed the desire for setting up joint ventures to boost exports.

Explaining the policy of her government, she said that it was friendly to private investment and the system was geared to enhance export. The envoy further said that decision making was easy and bureaucracy was accessible.

She said that the literacy rate was very high and educated and skilled manpower was available in Sri Lanka. “It is always possible to achieve standard and quality production and the value-added sector has a good chance as cost of utilities is not excessive and the overall climate is conducive to investment.”

Paksea central chairman M. Kamran Chandna said that Pakistan earned around $1.62 billion from export of knitwear and sweaters and felt that there was a great opportunity of joint ventures between the two countries.

The Lankan envoy invited Paksea to send a delegation to participate in the forthcoming trade fair and also offered to get necessary facilities and concessions for the visit.