Next round of ETCA talks between India, Sri Lanka this week

The next round of negotiations between India and Sri Lanka on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) is scheduled to happen this week here.
The ETCA is expected to help boost trade and investment between the two countries.
During her meeting to the neighbouring country, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Sri Lankan Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama and discussed this pact.
The leaders expressed satisfaction on the progress of the proposed ETCA, the commerce ministry said in a statement.
"It was noted that the second round of negotiations for the ETCA is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 29-30," it said.

Sitharaman's two-day visit to Sri Lanka ended today.

The visit was aimed at enhancing and deepening bilateral trade and investment relations between the countries.
Many issues relating to trade, services and investment were highlighted during India-Sri Lanka Business Forum meeting.
Further, it said the Indian minister suggested that the meeting of the reconstituted India-Sri Lanka CEO Forum be held at the earliest.
It said the visit has emphasised the importance of Sri Lanka as an important trading and investment partner for India and would help in further deepening the existing bilateral relations.
In a series of tweets, Sitharaman said she raised the issue of import of arecanut into India.

"Sri Lanka no longer allows import of arecanut for value addition and further export," she said.
She also said that Sri Lanka has successfully rolled out emergency ambulance service in its southern and western provinces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi "had announced a grant of USD 7.5 million for 88 ambulances and first year's operation...India's GVK operates the service while the ambulances are TATA made," she tweeted.