100 Indian firms take part in Sri Lanka trade fair

Colombo, July 24 (IANS) Over a hundred Indian companies are expected in Sri Lanka next week for what has been billed as the largest trade fair ever between the two countries, said authorities.

IT firm Wipro is the latest to join the high-level Indian trade and the business delegation arriving in Colombo next week on the sidelines of the trade fair that has been titled "India Show", the industry and commerce Ministry said here in a statement Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

"The number of firms in the high-level Indian trade delegation arriving next week has now increased to 105. The arrival of such a high-level delegation for business and trade will strongly enhance the bilateral trade cooperation between Sri Lanka and India," Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was quoted as saying in the statement.

India's Commerce, Industry and the Textile Minister Anand Sharma and senior Indian officials, business chamber representatives and company delegates are all expected to be part of the group.

India is Sri Lanka's largest trade partner worth $5 billion.

They were the first countries to sign a Free Trade Agreement in South Asia but in recent years have failed to come to an agreement over a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.