§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent to promote British trade and investment in Sri Lanka annually since 1997. [117645]
§ Mr. CabornBritish Trade International (since 1999—previously the Department of Trade and Industry) has given financial support to British companies going on trade missions to Sri Lanka, as follows:
Number of: Year Missions Companies participating Expenditure (£) 1997 5 109 70,200 1998 2 42 27,600 1999 4 84 54,000 Other expenditure to encourage trade and investment in Sri Lanka is part of our regional programme for the markets of Southern Asia. The following indicates expenditure on promoting Sri Lanka as part of that programme:
£ year Expenditure on Southern Asia Of which expenditure on Sri Lanka 1997–98 214,916 29,660 1998–99 177,086 50,413 1999–2000 160,639 39,017