Sri Lanka, New Zealand Eye Joint Initiatives

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka and New Zealand are set to establish a formal Trade and Economic Dialogue aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation across key sectors including trade, agriculture, education, tourism, and sports.

The announcement was made following high-level talks between Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, during his official visit to Colombo.

This marks the highest-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations since New Zealand opened its resident mission in Colombo in 2021 and Sri Lanka inaugurated its High Commission in Wellington earlier this year.

Minister Herath emphasized that the new dialogue framework will help streamline collaboration and promote mutual prosperity. “We are committed to transforming our relations into a dynamic, multifaceted partnership,” he stated.

Key highlights from the bilateral discussions include:

Trade Expansion: Focus on high-potential sectors such as dairy, processed food, and fresh produce, with efforts to improve market access for Sri Lankan exports.

Dairy Sector Cooperation: Continued support for initiatives like the Dairy Excellence Training Initiative (DETI), which has significantly improved rural livelihoods in Sri Lanka.

Tourism and Education: Plans for joint tourism promotions and enhanced academic partnerships, with over 1,200 Sri Lankan students currently studying in New Zealand.

Migration and Governance: Continued collaboration on safe migration pathways and a proposal for direct cooperation between Sri Lanka’s CIABOC and New Zealand’s anti-corruption agencies.