Sri Lanka's trade deficit with Vietnam should be viewed as a platform to be built upon, as Sri Lanka imports nearly six times of what it exports to the south east asian country, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Chairperson Sulakshana Jayawardena said recently, addressing representatives of Vietnamese businesses.

"Sri Lanka exports around $ 40 million goods to Vietnam primarily apparel, precious and semi-precious stones, seafood, tea, footwear, while importing nearly six times that figure approximately, $ 238 million, in textiles, iron and steel, plastics, and machinery,” Jayawardena told the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum.

Jayawardena said Vietnam's manufacturing and export processing model offers valuable lessons for Sri Lanka, particularly in the development of industrial zones.

He also noted that Sri Lanka's preferential trade access to the EU, the UK, India, and Pakistan creates an immediate export proposition for Vietnamese manufacturers seeking new routes to market.

He added that both countries are well-positioned to benefit from the global trend of diversifying Asian supply chains, with Vietnam's deep ASEAN integration offering Sri Lanka a bridge to broader Southeast Asian economic engagement.