New chapter in Sri Lanka-Belgium trade ties

Wallonia’s Investment and Trade Agency (Awex) has agreed to export Sri Lankan products to European countries by the beginning of next year and expand air travel between Sri Lanka and Belgium, Sri Lankas' Daily News reports. The agreement followed a meeting between Awex and economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka, where they discussed finding markets for Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish, natural flowers and fish products through the expansion of air links between the two countries. Rajapaksa’s attention was also drawn to local drinking water projects already under way with Belgium’s assistance. He stressed the need for extending these projects to other areas of Sri Lanka  to prevent kidney diseases that have become a serious health hazard due to the lack of clean water.