The Sri Lanka High Commissioner for the UK, Rohitha Bogollagama called on the Chairman of Marks & Spencer (M&S), Archie Norman on November 27. High Commissioner Bogollagama was accompanied by High Commission officials.
While briefing on the recent political change in Sri Lanka, Bogollagama said the importance of Sri Lanka because of its multiple exports to the UK and with M&S, covering the apparel sector and the food industry.
Today, M&S has grown to be a multifaceted retailer in the UK with a gigantic platform for sourcing of goods across the world, not only clothing but included fashion products and food items.
Bogollagama invited M&S to the Sri Lanka supply chain to source food as a new area of exports from Sri Lanka, including fresh fruit, processed food, coconut products and Ceylon Tea. With regard to fresh fruit, it was stated that M&S interest to develop trade links with producers of high quality Sri Lankan mango, pineapple, avocado, durian and soursop and to connect with the M&S supply chain was sustainable as there was a year round supply.
Bogollagama referred to the longstanding export relations Sri Lanka had with M&S and the collaboration on clothing and its value chain in South Asia. He broached on Sri Lanka’s concerns over apparel exports to the UK, including the stringent rules of origin on apparel under the UK’s preferential trade concessions to Sri Lanka. He referred to the requests that have already been made and the flexibility sought from the UK authorities. In response, the M&S Chairman wanted to assist the due process and reconsider Sri Lanka’s request.
He said that they planned to consolidate M&S operations in Asia and in Sri Lanka and would take this opportunity as a welcome measure to look at a stable destination in South Asia and East Asia in making a consolidation-hub in their global value chain.
