KARACHI: The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in collaboration with Horticultural Society of Pakistan (HSP) and Pakistan - Sri Lanka Business Forum organised a promotional campaign on Coco Peat and floricultural plants of Sri Lanka at the Horticultural Society of Pakistan, DHA Garden recently.
Two representatives from J.B Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Janaka Kahawatta, Managing Director and Mohammad Fauzil Cader, Export Manager from Sri Lanka made a presentation and demonstration on Coco Peat.
They introduced a new growing medium called Cocopeat, a product manufactured in Sri Lanka from the Coconut Fibre extraction process.
City Naib Nazim, Nasreen Jalil was the chief guest to this promotional campaign. During her address, she appreciated the Consulate General of Sri Lanka for organising this type of promotional event that would enhance and strengthen the bilateral trade and economic relations. She said that forest, plants, gardens and flowers are in acute shortage in Pakistan,
so that we need to concentrate on this area and promote all possible venues to make this part of the world green and healthy.
The Consul General of Sri Lanka V.S. Sidath Kumar in his speech mentioned that Pakistan is the second largest trading partner for Sri Lanka. After the implementation of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement since June 2005, there has been a substantial improvement in the bilateral trade.
The total trade between the two countries has increased from US$ 150 million in 2004 to US$ 270 million in 2008. While Sri Lanka's exports to Pakistan has increased by 70 percent from US$ 43 million in 2005 to US$ 75 million in 2008, Pakistan's exports to Sri Lanka has also increased by 70 percent from US$ 115 million to US$ 190 million from 2005 to 2008.
The Consul General further added that the FTA facilitates duty free market access for about 4,600 products between the two countries on reciprocal basis. Although our current bilateral trade remains at about US$ 300 million, we have a target of achieving US$ one billion in the near future. The best avenue to achieve this target is promoting products, services, joint ventures and investment in the two countries. Participation in trade fairs, exchange of trade delegations, organising promotional campaigns, conducting FTA seminars etc. will definitely pave the way to boost the bilateral trade.
Sidath Kumar added that the promotional campaign on Coco Peat and floricultural plants would make awareness of Sri Lankan floricultural plants such as ornamental foliage plants, landscaping plants, tissue cultured plants, aquatic plants, flower seeds, cut flowers, cut decorative leaves and the best growing medium Cocopeat.
Abdul Rauf Tabani, President of Pakistan - Sri Lanka Business Forum said that Pakistan and Sri-Lanka can jointly promote these nature gifted products by sharing their experience through exchange of specialists on this subject and to research
more botanical, herbal
medicines for healing of all sorts of diseases and to beautify their motherlands with new variety of flowers. Pakistan Sri-Lanka Business Forum is promoting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Sri-Lanka, bringing together, more closely the Business Community of both brotherly countries.
Fahim Siddiqui, Chairman of Horticultural Society of Pakistan (HSP) in his vote of thanks said that promotional campaign was an ideal
opportunity to make awareness of Coco peat among the horticulturists, importers, people engaged in horticultural business, agents and distributors.
Some horticulturists who attended this event, showed keen interest to use this new product in their gardens, parks, cultivation etc.-PR
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