CCC makes positive progress on mission to Qatar, Turkey and UAE

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit concluded its programme of activities for 2007 with another success story.

Subsequent to a result-oriented mission to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain in September, during the last lap of the year, the Trade Fair Unit offered another opportunity to the members to explore the Qatar, Turkey and the UAE markets.

These missions, whilst focusing on promotion of trade, investments and joint ventures also served as fact-finding missions.

The nine member delegation, which was led by Sarath de Silva, Chairman, International Foodstuff Co. Agri Bio Tech Pvt. Ltd. and assisted by Puvi Domingopillai, Consultant, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce comprised Anura Herath, Product Manager, CIC Ltd., Harin de Silva, Director, Eastern Merchants Ltd., Karthik Ramachandran, Commercial Manager, Jayes Trading Company, Mrs. Ovais, Chairperson, Ohlums Clinic and Laboratories, Sabir, Chairman, Rajapakse Trading (Pvt) Ltd., Rajapakse, Chairman, D. Samson Industries (Pvt) Ltd. and Thogesan, Manager, Tea Dept., Stassen Exports Ltd.

Meetings with officials of the Chambers, business communities, representatives of Super/Hyper markets in Qatar, Turkey, Dubai and Abu Dhabi were amongst the highlights of the mission.

The Assistance and co-operation extended by the Ambassadors and staff of the Embassies in Qatar and Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai and Turkey made it possible for the delegates to have meaningful business meetings in these countries.

The CCC which already has strong ties with over 60 countries through co-operation agreements expanded its linkage further by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The delegation had the opportunity of visiting Euro Plast Asia 2007 (plastic and rubber exhibition) in Turkey and the delegates representing the rubber sector had the privilege of visiting a rubber factory in Turkey.

This visit assisted them in evaluating the technology adopted in the Rubber factories in Sri Lanka as opposed to the ones in Turkey.

They were proud to note that Sri Lanka was far ahead of Turkey in this aspect and took this opportunity to invite their counterparts to visit Sri Lanka to view the methods adopted by the Sri Lankan factories.

Business inquiries resulting from this mission were 74, with 34 new business contacts established and 11 agreements in the making.

"Although the mission was not upto our expectations, it is gratifying to note that six delegates have made a breakthrough in to these markets", said Ms. Domingopillai, Consultant, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The Trade Fair Unit is in the process of formulating a plan of action for 2008, and looks forward to the views and suggestions of members in identifying potential markets.