Sri Lanka-Saudi Trade Surges 19% in 2025 📈

• Overall Trade Performance: Total bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia expanded by 9% in 2025. Export earnings specifically saw a robust 19% increase from January to September 2024, driven by coordinated diplomatic and commercial strategies. • Key Export Sectors: Growth was led by traditional and value-added sectors including tea, spices, fruits & vegetables, coconut-based products, processed foods (including frozen seafood), and construction materials. • Strategic Milestones: - Established the first-ever Saudi-Sri Lanka Joint Business Council in November 2025 to facilitate private-sector collaboration. - Ten business delegations visited Saudi Arabia in 2025, covering food & beverages, furniture, and manpower. - High-profile product launches, including Ceylon Biscuits Ltd (CBL), expanded retail market presence. • Service Sector Highlights: - Tourism: "Twin Tourism Roadshows" held in Riyadh and Dammam for the first time in six years. - Manpower: Reactivated employment promotional activities with participation in the HRLS Manpower Expo to boost foreign employment opportunities. • Context: The growth reflects a strategic shift toward market diversification and increased visibility in the Gulf region, supported by the Export Development Board and the Sri Lanka Tea Board. _Note: Export growth figures based on provisional data for Jan-Sept 2025._