Sri Lanka exports to India down, Pakistan up

Whilst Sri Lanka’s exports to India dropped 13%, the island’s exports to Pakistan has grown by 31%according to a Sri Lankan trade expert.

Last year, Sri Lanka’s exports to India have dropped to $346 million despite a seven per cent growth in the Indian economy during the period.

In the same period, Sri Lanka’s exports to Pakistan grew by 31 per cent despite the fact that Pakistan has been having a tough time, both politically and economically, Rohantha Athukorala, former chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board was quoted as saying.

Whilst the Sri Lanka-Pakistan bilateral trade is still very small in comparison with Sri Lanka-India trade and Sri Lanka’s exports to Pakistan are just $50 million, Athukorale raised concerns for about exports to India have been declining steadily in the past three years.

Sri Lanka’s main exports are garments and tea, but both do not find a foothold in the Indian market.

India has increased its quota from three million garment pieces a year to seven million, but this is not reflected in trade statistics.