COLOMBO, Jan 22 (Xinhua): Maldives President Abdulla Yameen attempted to boost trade with Sri Lanka here on Tuesday during his first visit to the island since assuming office.
Yameen on his arrival met with Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and held talks over how to increase trade between the two nations.
Maldives is currently Sri Lanka's third largest trade partner in the south Asian region.
"Let us restart our Joint Economic Commission (JEC). JEC is a mechanism that can help to move forward in trade. Let's also renew trade and it is time to go for a new approach in bilateral trade. Even tripartite free trade initiative within the South Asia Free Trade Agreement between India-Sri Lanka-Maldives is also a strong way to move forward," Yameen said at the meeting.
The president also pledged to push ahead with joint tourism marketing to promote both Sri Lanka and Maldives as one package.
"We are keen on joint tourism packaging with Sri Lanka so that tourists coming to Maldives can also travel to Sri Lanka on the same package and vice-versa."
Maldives, S Lanka to boost trade
FE Team | Published: January 23, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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