The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce organized ‘Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2016’ will commence this evening (08th March, 2016) in Colombo with the participation of 125 plus potential investors, who come from 27 countries. Apart from them, 130 Sri Lankan business executives representing top local firms will also take part in the event in order to meet the visiting investors and explore opportunities for business partnerships.
Inauguration 8th March
The inauguration session of the event will take place this evening at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel with the participation of Chief Guest, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs and The Guest of Honor, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Special Assignments. The keynote speech will be delivered by Mr. Datuk Azzat Kamaludin, Chairman of Dialog Axiata in Malaysia, while Mr. Samantha Ranatunga, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will deliver the welcome address, A message from Hon Ranil Wickramasinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka will be read at the event.
2nd Day Sessions
The second day of the event, (09th March) will consist key business sessions, followed by B2B meetings with visiting investors and their local counterparts. The investors will also hold B2G meetings during the 2nd day of the Conclave.
The first business session of the second day will discuss the topic of “Unlocking New Opportunities for Potential Partnerships in Sri Lanka,’ with high profile Cabinet Ministers, Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Strategic Development and International Trade; Hon. Kabir Hashim, Minister of Public Enterprise Development and Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis Development taking part as panelists. Renowned economist Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy will moderate the session.
‘The Success Story of Investment and Continuing Business Partnerships in Sri Lanka,’ will also come under discussion during the Conclave with Mr. Pierre Pringiers, Chairman of Camso Loadstar Private Limited sharing the success story of his company’s operations in Sri Lanka.
Following the above sessions, a discussion also would be held under the title of ‘Strategies of Attracting Business Partnerships and Investments to Sri Lanka,’ with the participation of the BOI Chief Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, Chairperson and Chairman and CEO of the Export Development Board, Mrs. Indira Malwatte, Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange Mr. Vajira Kulatilake and Mr. Ranjith Fernando, Chairman, Urban Development Authority. The session would be moderated by Mr. Anushka Wijesinha, Chief Economist of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
The Business sessions will be followed by a large number of B2B meetings between the visiting investors and local counterparts and also a series of G2B meetings with government officials and visiting investors.
3rd day Activities
The third day of the event, which is the 10th March, 2016, the visiting investors will make field visits to Export Processing Zones, Port of Colombo and the Colombo Stock Exchange.
‘Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2016’, organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has attracted foreign investors from 27 countries, with the investors mainly expected to focus on the areas of Export Manufacturing Agriculture, Infrastructure Development, Export Services, local Knowledge Services, Power and Energy, Tourism and Leisure sectors are the areas the majority of the investors are keen to find opportunities.