I must confess, however, that in the field of trade and economic co-operation, there is still a great deal of ground to cover. Fortunately, an earnest effort is now being made in this direction.
A Joint Economic Committee has been established to study and make recommendations on expanding trade and economic relations. This committee has identified a number of areas for mutually beneficial co-operation. For a start, two animal husbandry projects and a
rubber-based industry are to be set up shortly with Indian assistance and co-operation. A microwave link will also be set up shortly to make up the very serious deficiency in communication links between the two countries. This is a major project. I might mention that, in the last two decades, India has been able to expand and diversify its economy and to create a broad technological and industrial base. We would be happy to share with a close friend and neighbour like Sri Lanka whatever competence we may have acquired in the field of industry, science and technology.
There need be no apprehension about India wanting to flood other countries with its goods. Our own market is so huge that it can absorb everything that it can possibly produce or import. We are prepared to throw open our market to Sri Lanka for the products of its industries. What is holding up expansion of trade between us is lack of goods and products of interest to the other. Products produced jointly, especially those which are already established in either country, offer one solution to the problem of marketability.
Food and Production
Q.
Food is a common problem in our part of the world, which has been aggravated by the current international energy and commodity crises. Haw is India coping with the problem?
A.
The present difficult situation in a number of developing countries is due to a variety of factors, internal and external.