The Sri Lankan Export Development Board (SLEDB), Lanka’s apex export facilitator, recently linked top Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers to Inditex-the world’s largest textile retailer. “Our apparel sector caters to several leading international retailers, however we are yet to manufacture for Inditex. This effort directly links our apparel manufacturers to Zara for the first time,” said Chitranjali Dissanayake, Director-Industrial Products, SLEDB. This development was mainly guided by the keen interest of Lankan industry leaders in developing business contacts with Spain’s Inditex and to manufacture apparel in Sri Lanka for its brand-Zara. The EDB subsequently initiated a dialogue with Inditex and arranged for an initial meeting with a Lankan delegation to present the country’s capabilities and invite Inditex SA to source from Sri Lanka. The meeting with Jesus Echevarria Hernandez, General Director of Communication for Inditex SA at their headquarters in Spain is expected to reap positive results.
