Exports to China to become smoother…

Strengthening bilateral trade cooperation further, China’s powerful official organ in charge of import commodity inspections, has despatched its first expert study team to Sri Lanka-signalling that China is opening for Sri Lanka’s agro-exports. ”I am pleased and thankful to the Government of China for honouring my request during my 2012 visit to Kunming with this positive step. This will help towards smoother perishable exports to China” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce on 06 February in Colombo.

Minister Bathiudeen was in discussion with his officials on the latest trade developments on 06 February. The official quarantine study team from the powerful official organ in charge of import commodity inspections, Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (ADSIQ-China) has arrived in Sri Lanka on 05 February and began work on 06 February, by liaising with the EDB. The three member team is scheduled to return to China on 12 March.

According to the Department of Commerce, Sri Lanka’s bilateral trade with China stood at $ 2.67 Bn, with the balance of trade in favour of China. Apparel, mineral sands, mattress fiber, coir fiber, rubber and tea (bulk) and tyres and tubes are the top Sri Lankan exports to China.  In 2012, China bought $ 0.02 Mn of fruits from Sri Lanka (including bananas). Biggest importer of Sri Lankan fruits in 2012 was Saudi Arabia ($ 4.28 Mn of fruits), followed by India, UAE, Maldives, Qatar and 33 other countries. According to the EDB, Sri Lanka’s total fruit exports in 2012 stood at $ 18.69 Mn.

During his official visit to Kunming, China in June 2012, Minister Bathiudeen made an official request to (His Excellency) Gu Zhaoxi (the powerful Deputy Governor of People’s Government of Yunnan Province) on China’s quarantining of Sri Lankan perishables. The EDB under Minister Bathiudeen was informed by Lankan exporters of the difficulties when exporting fresh agricultural products to China which Minister Bathiudeen was representing to Chinese officials. “Our committed exporters, specially those who export perishables such as seafood, fruits and other agricultural products, are hampered by (Chinese) customs regulations that require quarantine inspection, relating to perishable cargo such as seafood and fruits. Sri Lanka will be appreciative to China for addressing this problem” said Minister Bathiudeen apprising  (His Excellency) Gu Zhaoxi.

(HE) Zhaoxi responding, responding to Minister Bathiudeen, said: “…In these cases we have to obtain a report from the National Quarantine Examination Administration in Beijing. They will send staff to each country on a field visit to examine samples and certify for exporting the items to China saying they are environmentally and otherwise safe and satisfy other conditions meeting Chinese standards…”

Thereafter, Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (ADSIQ-China) through the Sri Lankan Embassy in China, then sent a questionnaire on the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) requesting information to proceed with the quarantine protocol of China enabling them to consider granting approval and in July 2012 requested to prioritise the products and to request approval accordingly. Thereafter, based on Chinese export market potentials, Mango, Banana and Pineapple were selected at the initial stage while on EDBs request, the National Plant Quarantine Service of Department of Agriculture had submitted a PRA to obtain Chinese market access for these three fruits. The EDB subsequently forwarded the same to the ADSIQ through the Sri Lankan Embassy in China.

“When it comes to China-Sri Lanka bilateral trade, we in China lack knowledge on the production processes of Sri Lankan agro sector” said Peng Jinhuo, Division Head of Inspection and Quarantine Authority (Liaoning based), who leads the team to Sri Lanka. “Our main objective during this tour is the capacity evaluation of Sri Lanka’s banana value chain. In that, we are looking for first-hand learning of value chains. We also want to learn of Sri Lankan rules on agro exports” added Jinhuo.

“We welcome you to study our agro products” said Sujatha Weerakoon (Director General, EDB) addressing Division Head Jinhuo, and said: “Our agro exports have strong standing in international markets. It is time that China experience them too.”

A presentation by Dr DPP Jayakodi (Additional Director, National Plant Quarantine Service) on quarantine procedures used in Sri Lanka exports, was also made to the visiting Chinese delegation at the EDB.