CCC Trade Fair Unit explores opportunities in emerging markets

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit excelled this year by exploring potential emerging markets. The special focus of this unit is expansion of trade, investment, joint ventures and services between Sri Lanka and overseas markets and in achieving their goal organises Inbound/Outbound missions. During the period May - October 2005, the unit organised trade and investment promotions missions to Libya, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Romania and the latest being to Austria, Slovenia and Slovak Republic.

The eleven member delegation which was led by Managing Director, Andrew the Travel Company (Pvt) Ltd. Mahen Kariyawsan, and Honorary Consul for Slovak Republic in Sri Lanka and co-ordinated by Puvi Domingopillai, Senior Assistant Secretary General, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce comprised B. A. Mahipala, President, Bastran Ltd., Charles Emerson, Managing Director, Channa Dias, Director, Cornill International (Pvt) Ltd., Ruwan Senanayake, General Manager-International Trade Development, Freight Links International (Pte) Ltd., Kushal Perera, Joint Managing Director, Hands International (Pvt) Ltd., Premachandra Walgama, Proprietor, Heladiva Collections, Nishantha Wijewardane, Director, Lake House Investments Ltd., Thilina Kariyawasam, Customer Relations and Market Development Manager, Microcells Ltd., and Lalith Wijebandara, Deputy General Manager Samson Rubber products (Pvt) Ltd.

The main objective of the delegation was to establish business links in these countries for products such as garments, tea, spices, coconut products, agricultural produce, Industrial/Latex examination gloves, luggage and bags, furniture, handicrafts, rubber mats and flooring, solid/pneumatic tyres, other rubber products and shipping, freight forwarding and tourism services.

Though the target market was Austria, the delegates were more successful with the smaller markets Slovenia and Slovak Republic.

The CCC was able to further strengthen and extend its ties with the Slovak Chamber of Commerce, which was established with the signing of the MOU in 2002. The CCC created a landmark by organising the first ever Sri Lankan delegation to these three countries. The CCC in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Austria initiated the delegation.

The visit to the furniture fair in Slovak assisted the delegate in the furniture sector in establishing firm contacts and securing complimentary space at the next furniture fair scheduled in March 2006.