ECONOMYNEXT – The United States will redouble its efforts to support Sri Lanka through bilateral trade, business collaboration, SME financing and other avenues, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said.
Chung tweeted Monday August 29 evening after a meeting of the US-Sri Lanka Business Council on ways businesses of the two countries can collaborate to ensure the cash-strapped country gets back on a path to prosperity. Sri Lanka is currently going through its worst economic crisis since Independence, with high inflation and shortages having hit the public hard.
US-Sri Lanka bilateral trade already supports more than 180,000 workers supplying exports to the US and contribute billions to the island nation’s economy, said Chung.
“The US will redouble efforts to support SL along this path through ongoing efforts like financing for SMEs, fertilizer & seeds for farmers, education exchange & training to strengthen public financial management, as well as support through IMF if agreement can be reached (sp),” she said.
The US was recently central to a diplomatic standoff between India, China and Sri Lanka over a Chinese tracking vessel that the Indian media had dubbed a ‘spy ship’ which made a port call at the Chinese-built Hambantoa Port in the island’s deep south.
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(Colombo/Aug30/2022)