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Asia and Oceania
Sri Lanka |
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Country information
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$ 37.2bn (2008)
GDP per head: US$ 1500 (2008)
GDP Growth: 6.0% (2008) 6.7% (2007)
Inflation: annual average 10.9% (July 2009)
Major Industries: Agriculture, forestry, fishing, Manufacturing, Construction, Utilities, Services.
Major trading partners: Main destinations of exports are: US (32.4%), EU (32.4%), Middle East (7.5%), and CIS (3.5%). Main origins of imports are: India (18%), Singapore (8.7%), Hong Kong (7.7 %), China (5.7%), Iran (5.2%).
Aid & development: The international donor community agreed US$ 4.5 billion for the period 2003-6. This was conditional on progress in the peace process, which unfortunately has not been achieved. Donors pledged approximately US$500 million for post-tsunami reconstruction. An IMF loan facility of $2.6 billion was approved in July 2009.
Tourist arrivals by country of residence: India 85,238 (19.4%); UK 81,331 (18.5%); followed by Germany, Maldives, Australia and Netherlands.
Exchange rate: (July 2009) US$1 - 114.9 rupees, £1 Sterling - 189.4 rupees.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) monitors trade and investment figures worldwide. For current economic background and sector reports on Sri Lanka please visit the UK Trade and Investment website: UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Sri Lanka.
In March 2000 the Indo-Sri Lankan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect. At the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) conference held in Pakistan in early January 2004 a wider free trade agreement between all SAARC members was signed and entered into force in 2006.
