Africa is buying: Sri Lanka must start selling
A call to Sri Lankan exporters and agencies: Can Sri Lanka compete with China and India in Africa? By Kana V. Kananathan Former Ambassador Sri Lanka has spent decades concentrating its exports on traditional markets in Europe, North America and Asia. Yet across the Indian Ocean lies a rapidly expanding market that remains significantly underdeveloped […]
Sri Lanka must shift its export strategy to tap the vast African market, according to a former Sri Lankan ambassador. While Sri Lanka has long exported to traditional markets, the potential in Africa is significant and underdeveloped. Kenya, in particular, presents an opportunity worth exploring. The country imported over $24 billion worth of goods in 2025, with a mere 1% share representing nearly $240 million in annual exports.
Sri Lanka already exports a variety of products to Kenya, including paper and paperboard, knitted fabrics, pharmaceuticals, rubber products, and machinery. However, competition is fierce, as Asia supplies around 70% of Kenya's imports, with China and India leading the way. Sri Lanka must therefore focus on sectors where quality, specialization, reliability, and technical capability matter more than price.
Packaging, rubber products, textiles, and pharmaceuticals are potential areas where Sri Lanka can compete successfully. By establishing manufacturing capabilities in Africa, Sri Lanka could also become a distribution gateway for its own products. Additionally, Sri Lanka should consider exploring West African markets, particularly Ghana and Nigeria, which have favorable tariff bands and significant potential.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
