Financial Times

Sri Lanka apparel mission to North Carolina
A Business Promotion Mission to North Carolina has been undertaken by Sri Lanka's Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) to promote business with US textile manufacturers.

Mahesh Amalean, Chairman MAS Holdings Ltd. and Chairman, JAFF Sub-Committee on Human Resource Development/Technology Advanced Initiatives is leading the mission and in Charlotte, North Carolina, they will be joined by Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Devinda R. Subasinghe and Saman Udagedara, Minister (Commercial), Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C.

Other members of the JAAF mission include Janak Hirdaramani, Director, Hirdaramani Group, Feroz Omar, Managing Director, Kuruwita Industries Ltd., Channa Palansuriya, Managing Director, Orit Apparels Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. and Anupam Agrawal, General Manager, Ishin Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd.

The Sri Lankan embassy in the US said the mission was initiated by the embassy and the Office of the USTR as a part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries.

The purpose of the Apparel Mission is to explore the possibility of expanding import of US manufactured fabrics, yarn, cotton, accessories etc., by Sri Lankan apparel manufactures, identify US fabric manufacturers, who may be interested in investing in fabric manufacturing facilities in the country to take advantage of the US one billion fabric import market in Sri Lanka, as well as, export market opportunities present elsewhere in the region.

Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), a strong supporter of free trade, will host the delegation in Charlotte and will introduce them to leading US fabric manufacturers in Gaston County at a kick off meeting organized by the Gaston County Economic Development Commission. The mission will travel to Raleigh, Greensboro and Winston-Sale, the major textile centers in North Carolina, to meet with US fabric manufacturers.

The meeting in Raleigh will be held at the North Carolina State University College of Textiles. In Greensboro the delegation will meet leading US fabric manufacturers such as Burlington Industry, Conemills, Elastic Fabric Manufacturers etc. The mission will also visit Sara-Lee Branded Apparel, which has established a state-of-the-art Design Centre in Sri Lanka and is also scheduled to meet with fabric manufacturers and representatives of Textile Associations in the area.

Back to Business