For the first time, no less than a stream of state owned businesses of a foreign economy is eyeing direct B2B with Lankan private sector.

"Most of our business enterprises are state owned and still keen on exploring business opportunities here. We will definitely be happy to see more Lankan companies as our partners. We will send you our list of first B2B delegation soon," Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Valentin B. Rybakov said.

Deputy Minister Rybakov lead a 20+ member Belarusian delegation for the first ever Sri Lanka-Belarus Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation session held in Colombo last week.

The successfully concluded session resulted in strategic joint ventures between both countries in automotives, and agriculture and has also created the platform for future trade, investment and B2B cooperation between both countries.

When it comes to Sri Lanka's current trade with Belarus, of the total of 231 exports destinations of Sri Lanka in 2013, Belarus ranked as the 77th export destination. Less than 01%, that is 0.05%, of Lanka's total exports are taken by Belarus. This shows that Belarus is still a virgin market for Sri Lanka with strong B2B potentials. As for our bilateral trade, the total trade between both countries stood at dollars 14.24 mn in 2013. 94% of Lankan exports to Belarus are various teas.