NZ biz delegation upbeat over Lankan investment prospects

A business delegation of 14 New Zealand companies arrived in Sri Lanka this week to further strengthen business links between the two countries. 
Sri Lanka is New Zealand’s 23rd largest export market and is worth NZD $ 254 million. New Zealand is Sri Lanka’s 54th largest export market worth NZD $ 55 million. 
New Zealand’s top exports to Sri Lanka are milk powder, butter and fruit. Sri Lanka’s top exports to New Zealand are tea, retreaded tyres and gloves.  Led by New Zealand Veteran Affairs and Food Safety Minister and Transport and Immigration Associate Minister David Bennett, the delegation comprises some of New Zealand’s leading corporates including Staah, Tait Communications, Vista, Powershield, Aeroqual, Framecad, Pan Pac Forest Products Limited, Color Communications, Precision Medicine International Limited, Pictor, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Syft Technologies and International Aviation Academy of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, with support from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will be assisting the delegation to explore the possibility of forging new business ventures with their Sri Lankan counterparts. 
A function was held yesterday morning with Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando in attendance to welcome Bennett and the delegation, at which the future of Sri Lanka-New Zealand trade was discussed.