South Africa has sought Sri Lanka's assistance to improve their jewellery industry, the outgoing South African High Commissioner in Colombo Robina P. Marks said. She revealed this when she called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Foreign Ministry on December 04.
The High Commissioner apprised the Minister that the Government of South Africa was keen to obtain assistance from Sri Lankan craftsmen to develop the Jewellery Industry in South Africa.
South Africa is currently Sri Lanka’s major source of coal imports, accounting for most of the country’s imports from the region. Investment, tourism, and migration flows have also grown in recent decades, though they remain small in terms of total flows to Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Gunawardena sought South African expertise in the canning industry for the food and vegetable industry in Sri Lanka, as around 40% of the harvest is wasted in the country due to technology gaps in this field.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in trade, investment and tourism sectors between the two countries. It was also discussed on further expanding tea exports to the African continent through the South African distribution network.
The outgoing High Commissioner also informed that the South African supermarket chain, SPAR has made arrangements to expand up to 20 units in Sri Lanka and also emphasised on the availability of the containers that import goods from South Africa to be used to export Sri Lankan products to the South African Market upon their return. The Foreign Minister paid a tribute to the High Commissioner for her immense contribution in further consolidating relations between Sri Lanka and South Africa in all spheres.