Department of Commerce

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With the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, negotiation of FTA with Thailand was commenced in 2018. Since initiation , nine rounds of extensive negotiations between the two countries were held on 14 Chapters & relevant Annexes of the agreement. The Sri Lanka Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) is comprehensive in scope and covers areas on Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Sanitary and PhytoSanitory Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade , Trade Remedies, Trade in Services, Investment, Customs Procedure and Trade Facilitation , Economic Cooperation, Intellectual Property, Initial Provisions, Institutional and Final Provisions, Transparency and Dispute Settlement.

· Subsequent to the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, the SLTFTA was signed on the 3rd February 2024, in Sri Lanka.

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Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) Webinar Series

The UK Government launched the DCTS on 19^th June 2023. The DCTS is the UK’s new unilateral preference scheme and liberalises trade with 65 developing countries. It offers simpler and more generous trading terms and aims to boost trade with partner countries.

We have put together a series of webinars to support businesses to export to the UK under the scheme. All sessions will include a Q&A section. Please feel free to forward these links to relevant business and policy groups. More information on the scheme can be found at Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Webinar Title	Description	Speaker(s)	Date/ Time	Link
Customs for the DCTS	This event will focus on the customs process for using the DCTS including Form A and origin certificates.	Steve Lamprell, Senior Lead - Rules of Origin & Agricultural Policy and Sadia Shakeel, Head of Rules of Origin & Agricultural Policy	05/02/24 10-11am, GMT	Click here to join the meeting
DCTS - Agriculture	Join our agricultural counsellor based In Nairobi who will discuss how to approach trade standards when exporting agricultural products to the UK	Rebecca Schneider, Agriculture, Food & Drink Attaché for Africa, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	06/02/24 12-1pm, GMT	Click here to join the meeting
UK Market Opportunities and trends in Home and Gifts	A representative from Hyve group will discuss market opportunities in the UK and market trends in Home and Gifts based on 2023 data.	Suzanne Ellingham, Source Director – Hyve Group plc	08/02/24 10-11am, GMT	Click here to join the meeting
DCTS Guidance teach in	Learn more about the DCTS, how to use our 7 digital guides, the online tariff tool and more	Rupert Casson, Trade Policy Advisor, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office	09/02/24 10-11am, GMT	Click here to join the meeting
Introduction to UK Trade Standards	Join representatives from the British Standards Institute (BSI) to learn about how to approach UK trade standards.	Peter Sissons, BSI International Engagement Director	19/02/24 11am-12pm	Click here to join the meeting

Click Here

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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Cairo organized a meeting with the officials of the Alexandria Business Association(ABA) on 18^th October 2023 at the ABA headquarters. Mr. Mohamed Hanno, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Dr. Mohamed Muharram, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, received H.E Mr. M.K. Pathmanaathan, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Egypt, and Mr. Kasun Balasooriya, Second Secretary Commercial of the Embassy.

At the meeting Mr. Mohamed Hanno, ABA Chairman, and Dr. Mohamed Mehrem, ABA Vice Chairman, welcomed the Ambassador and the team from the Embassy of Sri Lanka with the aim of encouraging trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries in various areas. H.E. Mr. M.K. Pathmanaathan explained the political and economic recessions faced by Sri Lanka since 2020 and the current economic reforms taking place in various areas such as agriculture, tourism, trade, and business. Adding more to his remarks, Ambassador Pathmanaathan stated that the situation started to change rapidly towards a positive direction due to the reforms implemented by the government under the new President. His Excellency also mentioned that the diplomatic relations between Egypt and Sri Lanka had begun since 1956 and confirmed that there are smooth Egyptian-Sri Lankan trade relations. During his remarks, Mr. Mohamed Hanno confirmed that ABA looks forward to developing more cooperation with Sri Lanka through the members of ABA.

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SPECIAL NOTICE TO BASMATI RICE IMPORTERS UNDER PSFTA

Department of Commerce

Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security

Reallocation and the Extension of the Deadline for Importation of Basmati Rice under Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA) - 2023

The previous quota allocations done with regard to importation of Basmati rice under the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement will not be valid after 31st January 2024. New registration will be opened from 01^st February 2024 to 08^th February 2024 to reallocated the unutilized quota in 2023.

The deadline for the issuance of duty exemption certificates in relation to the reallocated quota is 15^th April 2024.

The duty-waiver recommendations will be applicable only to PK385 variety of Basmati rice/ Super Kernel Basmati/ Super Basmati Rice/ 1121-Kainat Rice/ D-98 Basmati Rice varieties imported fromPakistan.

The quota applications can be handed over to the Department of Commerce, located at No. 492, L.H.P. Building, R.A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 03.

Documents required for New Registration

Duly completed application form - Applications can be downloaded from www.doc.gov.lk
The original and a certified copy of the company registration.*
The original and a certified copy of the TIN certificate.*
Any other documents/information that would be required by the DOC.

Upon the confirmation of allocation of quota, registered importers can import basmati rice under the PSFTA and request for a duty exemption certificate from the Department of Commerce by submitting following documents.

The original letter of registration issued by the Department of Commerce
Original and a copy of the Certificate of Origin issued by the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)
Phytosanitary certificate issued by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Development of Plant Protection of Pakistan
Certificate of fumigation issued by any institute approved the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Department of Plant Protection of Pakistan
Import CUSDEC
A third-party quality certificate issued from SGS Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, confirming the exact variety of Basmati.
Quality certificate/s issued by M/s Trading Cooperation of Pakistan, confirming the exact variety of Basmati
Original and a copy of the Bill of Lading, Commercial invoice, Packing list

*The original documents will be returned to the applicant after verification

Clearance of each import consignment will be subjected to verification of quality and health standards etc., by Sri Lanka Customs.

For any additional details, please contact;

Director General of Commerce

Department of Commerce, LHP Building, No.492,
Duplication Road (R.A.de Mel Mawatha), Colombo 03

Tel : 011 232 97 33 / 011 243 61 14 / 11 232 71 91 / 011 232 55 24

Fax : 0 11 2430233

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Web : www.doc.gov.lk

Date: 31.01.2024

Paper Article (Click Here)

Registration Form (Click Here)

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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Cairo organized a tourism promotion event in Alexandria Governorate, the second-largest city and former capital of Egypt. The Alexandria Governorate is home to a number of reputed outbound tour operators who offer travel packages to their clients to visit various tourism destinations in the world, including Sri Lanka.

Eighteen well-known outbound travel agents based in the Alexandria Governorate were invited to this promotional event, which took place at the Royal JEWEL Hotel in Alexandria city on 18^th October 2023 under the patronage of H.E. Mr. M.K. Pathmanaathan, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Egypt.

The event included the screening of promotional videos showcasing the tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, as well as a detailed presentation to increase awareness among travel agents about Sri Lanka as a prime destination in the South Asian region. The presentation, conducted by Mr. Kasun Balasooriya, Second Secretary (Commercial), included important factors to be aware of by the Egyptian travel agents when they promote Sri Lanka as a destination to their prospective clients, such as visa application procedures, airlines flying to Sri Lanka from Egypt, average airfare costs, available accommodation types, accessibility for the local transportation network in Sri Lanka, and finding authorized tour operators (counterparts) in Sri Lanka, etc., which were well received by the travel agents. Following the presentation, participants were provided with a Q&A session to address any concerns and questions they had about promoting Sri Lanka to their clients and connecting with tour operators in Sri Lanka.

The event concluded with the distribution of giveaway packages containing promotional brochures on Sri Lanka Tourism and pure Ceylon tea, which was eagerly received by the Egyptian tour operators.