Business Chamber News

To create a gateway to Middle Eastern markets for mission members:

Ceylon Chamber in mission to Saudi, Bahrain and Oman

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit will go on a business promotion mission to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman scheduled from August 30 to September 6.

This mission is initiated at the invitation of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). During the visit of Al - Athel, Secretary General of RCCI to Sri Lanka in June to participate at the Economic Summit organized by the CCC, both parties agreed to enter into a bilateral co-operation agreement.

The MoU was signed on June 7 and Al - Athel in his address extended an invitation to the CCC to lead a business delegation to Riyadh. Keeping in line with the objectives of the MoU the CCC decided to organize a mission to Riyadh and to add value to its members thought it fit to include Bahrain and Oman too.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit, which was set up in 2002, during its five years of existence, has made great progress in assisting its members in venturing into potential emerging markets.

‘This unit was set up with the objective of giving a helping hand, mainly to the members who needed our support in emerging into new markets and we are proud to say that we have achieved our goals by organising business promotion missions to over 20 countries.

The markets covered by our missions ranges from our neighbouring country India to the European region namely Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia etc.

Nordic Countries and even the Eastern Block - Russia, including the super powers Japan and China’ said the Chamber spokesman.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged its support to assist this trade promotion event through their missions in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Hon. Consul for Sri Lanka in Bahrain. Sadiq, Ambassador for Saudi Arabia, Mahroof, Ambassador for Oman and Higgoda, Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Bahrain are extending their wholehearted support in making this mission a success.

The business meetings are being organised by the Chambers in Riyadh, Bahrain and Oman.

The delegation which will be led by Chairman, International Foodstuff Co. Agri Bio Tech Pvt Sarath de Silva will comprise Product Manager, Chemical Industries (Colombo) Ltd., Anura Herath, Director, Eastern Merchants Ltd. Harin De Silva, Manager - International Operations, Imperial Teas (Pvt) Ltd. Prabash Kombalavithana, Imtheyaz Ovais, Chairperson, Ohlums Clinic and Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd. Azif Razeen, Management Accountant, Rileys Ltd. and Shamila Nagasena, Executive - International Marketing, Samson Rubber Industries.

The CCC will be represented by Consultant Puvi Domingopillai. The interests of the delegation vary ranging from the traditional tea, rubber, spices, coconut products to non traditional fruits and vegetables, mineral water, floor coverings, stationery, medical & laboratory equipment.

All three Chambers have assured of their co-operation to the delegation and have showed great enthusiasm in meeting with the Sri Lankan delegation.

Arrangements have also been made by the Chambers to meet with the relevant ministries. Preparation is also underway for the CCC to enter into co-operation agreements with the Bahrain and Oman Chambers.

We are glad to report that all our business promotion missions have resulted in virtually the entire delegation entering into contract agreements or establishing positive links which materialised into export orders. We are quite confident that this mission too will enhance two way trade between Sri Lanka and the three overseas markets - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman’, a Chamber spokesman said.

Regional business community formalise collaboration with Colombo business leaders

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Chamber, set up in Sri Lanka way back in 1839, which has developed today into a strong confederation of regional and sectoral chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations, employer organisations and bilateral business councils has granted affiliated membership to the Business for Peace Alliance. (BPA).

The BPA, Sri Lanka’s regional business network for regional empowerment, conflict transformation and corporate social responsibility was established five years ago by the regional chambers throughout Sri Lanka.

The BPA is a “bottom up initiative”, owned and managed exclusively by the regional business community.

The BPA, which operated informally over the last four years, was institutionalised in September 2006 and set up a Secretariat in Colombo to co-ordinate its activities in all parts of the island.

“The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has been associating closely with the BPA since its inception and we have collaborated with BPA in organising some important joint projects.

These projects have had a significant impact. The BPA has also been represented in some of the CCC’s sub-committees including the Peace and Reconciliation sub-committee and the Public Awareness sub-committee”, Chairman, CCC, Mahen Dayananda said.

“Since the BPA has institutionalised itself, we felt that it was fitting that CCC should also formalise its association with BPA by granting affiliated membership to BPA in the CCC”, Dayananda said.

Dayananda commended BPA initiatives to network the business community throughout the country, which led to building business linkages and fostering of peace and reconciliation.

He said that the CCC placed importance on addressing the current initiatives connected with the process of peace and reconciliation and BPA’s efforts at regional level complemented the efforts of the CCC in this context.

“The CCC is also collaborating with the BPA in promoting the practice of CSR in the regions. We are working towards the development of the millennium development goals. The BPA is partnering us to create awareness in this regard and implement CSR strategies in the regions”, Dayananda said.

BPA Chairman, H. Wijeyanandana hailed the formalisation of the collaboration between BPA and CCC.

“Our network now comprises twenty five (25) regional business chambers in all the provinces in Sri Lanka. The membership of two of these chambers is made up exclusively of women in business “, he said.

Wijeyanandana went on to say that there is tremendous marginalisation of the regional business community. The traditional “Colombo centric approach” has not been a successful model for economic growth and national development.

“The bulk of the raw materials and the bulk of production is done in the regions. However, most decisions affecting the regions are made in Colombo without consulting the regions who are affected”, he said.

“Through BPA, we the regional business community are developing our leadership skills and business skills. Many issues affecting the regions are common, whether they emanate from the North, South or other parts. Through BPA we address common issues and communicate the voice of the regions to policy makers in Colombo”, he explained.

“We want to preserve our regional identity and dignity. However, we cannot function in isolation. We have much to learn from the big business in Colombo. We also have much to share by way of providing inputs from the regions and also providing support to implement projects in the regions,” he said.

Wijeyanandana said that the formal affiliation to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which was a highly experienced and respected chamber not just in Sri Lanka but in the entire world, was a major step forward for BPA.

“We look forward to collaborating further with the eminent business leaders in the CCC in our efforts to promote peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka”, said Wijeyanandana.