'India hopes to double trade with Sri Lanka to US$ 10 billion by 2015'

New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Commerce, Industry and Textiles minister Anand Sharma has said that India hope to double its trade with Sri Lanka to 10 billion dollars by 2015.

Sharma said this while inaugurating 'India Show' in Colombo on Friday. He is leading a strong 205 Indian delegation represented by leading CEOs and senior business representatives of 108 companies to Colombo for the third India Show in Sri Lanka, to showcase a vast range of goods and services that India businessmen can offer to their counterparts in Sri Lanka.

The 3-Day India Show exhibition is being held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo till 5 August 2012.

"Our bilateral trade is about five billion US $, which looks very impressive. But I feel it's well below the potential. Sri Lanka is India's largest trading partner in South Asia. We should not only sustain it. But give it depth and diversity," Sharma said.

He said India was looking at getting more involved in the manufacturing and value added services in Sri Lanka particularly for infrastructure related activities.

Sharma also said that the Government of India would support Sri Lanka in setting up manufacturing investment zones in engineering and automotive sectors, with special focus on value added products and services.

"I am sure the business leaders will build bridges of understanding and take forward this partnership so that people of this country, the people of India will benefit from it," the Minister added.

This is the third India Show in Sri Lanka, after similar successive editions in 2003 and 2005. (ANI)