Sri Lanka’s parliament instructs to remove obstacles in toddy, kithul exports
The Morning: Committee Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage, instructed the relevant officials to take immediate steps to remove the obstacles in the local production and export of toddy, kithul, palm and coconut-related products.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries also pointed out during the previous Committee meeting held that there have been issues in the local production, distribution and export of toddy, kithul, palm and coconut related products and that the Government is capable of generating significant income by solving the existing concerns.
Accordingly, relevant government institutions including the Excise Department and the Customs Department were called before the Committee to discuss and resolve the issues in this regard. After discussing with these departments, it was agreed to remove the obstacles in this regard.
This was taken up for discussion when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans met in the Parliament recently (4) under the Chairmanship of MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
It was also agreed to remove the barriers to the wholesale distribution of toddy palm produced in the Northern Province, locally and abroad. Moreover, the Committee instructed the exporters to prepare a necessary system to easily and systematically export toddy, kithul, palm and coconut-related products.
The Committee pointed out that there is a large market abroad for toddy, kithul, palm and coconut-related products. As a result, the Committee pointed out that the Government will be able to generate a significant revenue in the future through the removal of these obstacles.
Furthermore, the relevant officials were instructed to submit a proposal to the Committee that includes all the proposals regarding toddy, kithul, palm and coconut-related products.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is in the process of expanding its trade ties with foreign countries while working on also expanding the country’s existing export product portfolio. Sri Lanka enjoys many trade agreements as well as trade concessions with many foreign countries, and is currently in the process of further strengthening the existing ties while negotiating new trade pacts with more countries. All these provide an edge to Sri Lanka’s exports sector. The profits recorded by businesses engaged in Sri Lanka’s exports sector and the expansion programmes undertaken by them indicate the growth and business potential in the sector. It is in this backdrop that Sri Lanka is looking at further expanding the country’s export product portfolio by including toddy and other kithul products in the export products list. With Sri Lanka working towards becoming a trade hub and the many promotional campaigns carried out by the Sri Lankan government as well as the many incentive schemes presented to foreign businesses/investors exploring opportunities in Sri Lanka’s exports sector, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the growing business/investment opportunities in the country’s exports sector. Foreign businesses could also look at forming collaborations with local businesses in the exports sector with the aim of further expansion.