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Public opinion sought for National Trade Policy

19 Mar 2021

Seeking public comments and opinions on the proposed new National Trade Policy would begin next week through newspaper advertisements, Trade Ministry Secretary Bhadranie Jayawardhana told The Morning yesterday (18). “The parties that are interested in giving opinions and comments would be welcomed by the Ministry,” she said. She added that the expert committee appointed to formulate the National Trade Policy has a separate area within the premises of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) for expert committee meetings. “The expert committee would discuss the need of the National Trade Policy with different sectors in the country before drafting the policy.” University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge has been appointed as the Chairman of this expert committee. Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Gunawardana stated that the said committee was appointed to expeditiously address the shortcomings in the co-operatives sector. Speaking to The Morning earlier, he said: “We do not have a national trade policy while many other countries have such a policy. It is imperative to have a trade policy when we are dealing with other countries. We have identified the need and we are in the process of formulating it.” Meanwhile, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) also welcomed the initiative, stating that a national trade policy is useful in getting all stakeholders, especially across the Government, aligned in a common mission of improving Sri Lanka’s trade performance. Once the national trade policy is formulated, the focus should swiftly move to developing a trade development or trade promotion strategy.


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