ADVERTORIAL

Benelux Business Council office bearers

The Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council (SLBBC) was formed in April 1992 as an affiliate of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The objectives of this Business Council are to promote trade and investment opportunities between Sri Lanka and the Benelux countries, to promote mutual understanding and strengthen relationships between Sri Lanka and the Benelux countries.

The main activities of the Business Council include:

* Informing members of trade inquiries received from importers and exporters from the Benelux countries,

* Encouraging joint ventures and exchange of information on trade and investment with the appropriate bodies and

* Organizing promotional programmes, which would be beneficial to the entrepreneurs of both countries. The 15th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council was held on August 21, where the following office bearers were elected for the year 2008/2009:

President: Sega Nagendra, Equity Services (Pvt.) Ltd; Vice Presidents: Ranee Ratnayake, A & A International (Opticians), Upali Panditharatne, Mansel (Ceylon) Ltd; Imm. Past President: Mahen Kariyawasan, Andrew The Travel Co. Ltd.

Committee Members: P. M. Abeysekera - Limako Suiker BB, Jayantha Panabokke - Mahaweli Reach Hotels Ltd., Deepal Jayamanne - Mercantile Produce Brokers, Nigel Austin - Nisol Diamonds (Pvt.) Ltd, Upali Senarath - Premadasa & Co. (Jewellers) Ltd., E. M. B. Daniel - Promising Products Co., Michael Elias - Walkers Tours Ltd.Following the Annual General Meeting, the First Secretary of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Alida Ritsema, made a presentation to members highlighting the current activities of the Embassy and how to establish and strengthen ties between the two countries.

The Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council intends organising a Mission to Benelux Countries in May 2009. The objectives of this mission would be to strengthen trade ties, establish business links and source suitable business partners for Trade, Investment etc.,

Green Card Winners to migrate to USA

Every year, US State Department Grants 50,000 Visas under the Diversity Visa Lottery, popularly known as Green Card Lottery to selected lot of countries. The Green Card Application Processing Center in Sri Lanka, SOMIT Pvt. Ltd, says 792 Sri Lankans have won the Green Card lottery this time.

Winners who are married would be able to take their spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age also with them and therefore around 2000 Sri lankans would be going for permanent residency in USA under this scheme.

Since the entry qualification is just G.C.E. O/L, this is the easiest way to migrate to USA. One need not have to take examinations like TOEFL or IELTS to prove the English language proficiency or have blood relations in the USA or a specific amount of money in the bank to apply for the Green Card.

Seminar on credit management

B Connected will offer an evening session on effective Credit Management and Debt Collection on September 4 from 2.30 till 6.00 p.m. at Lilac Room, Hotel Galadari where participants will get enriched with ideas useful and implementable.

This programme is targeted for those in business, entrepreneurs, sales managers, accountants, corporate managers, credit controllers and business students. The facilitator for this session will be Premakumar Fernando, FCMA, an experienced trainer with hands on experience on collection, having worked for a Sri Lankan company with over 10,000 customers.

This evening workshop will provide an insight of practical tips for credit management and will involve discussions on how to allow credit, how to collect your money on time etc.,

More foreign investors for more projects

An agreement was signed with Direct Technologies Limited and BOI for a project to develop and export software and provide IT related services for overseas clients. The investment is made by a Saudi Arabian company, National Technology Group.

The company provides Online Stock Trading Solution, "Mubasher". The project will integrate the global solution with reputable banks and brokers to trade with the solution.

Director / General Manager of the company, Arjuna Nanayakkara said "This is our second BOI project and we have been operating in Sri Lanka for over seven years.

We looked at investment opportunities in other Asian countries but decided on Sri Lanka because we have a good base in Sri Lanka for expansion".

He also commended the fast service offered by the BOI. The venture is an initial investment of US $ 300,000 and will generate around 100 employment opportunities.

Director / General Manager Arjuna Nanayakkara signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

The agreement signed with Korea-Lanka Plastics is for a project to manufacture woven plastic bags for industrial use.

The investment for this project is sponsored by Hyosungo and Tec Company, South Korea.

The venture is an investment of Rs. 54 million and will create employment opportunities for a workforce of 100. The manufacturing plant will be located at Horanaand commence work in September. President Jung Ki Soo signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

BOI also signed an agreement with Bam Apparel to manufacture garments for export by taking over assets and employees of an existing garment manufacturer in Kitulgala.

This project is an investment of Rs. 63 m and is expected to generate employment opportunities for 400. Director Harshana Mahipala signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

Since the situation in Sri Lanka is satisfactory more investments are expected in the future, a BoI official said. The government is prepared to give all the necessary facilities for such investors,he said.

Chairman EDB Brian Angunawela steps down

Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant Brian Angunawela relinquished duties as Chairman EDB from yesterday (31). Angunawela was appointed to the post in the year 2005.During the past three and a half years he served for two Cabinet Ministers.

Coming from the private sector Angunawela was instrumental in re-organizing the Mushroom Development and Training Centre a project under the purview of the EDB into a profit making venture.

Under his leadership the EDB was able to resurrect and commence operations in the Uva Paranagama Export Production Village and the Tissamaharama Export Processing Village.

During his tenure of office the EDB launched several programmes in the provinces linking the rural producer with the exporter in Colombo.

 Applications called for IYFE 2009 award

The International Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2009 award (IYFE) is a British Council initiative that seeks to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneures working in the field of fashion. The award will showcase international innovation in fashion promotion, using the UK as the nexus for cultural, creative and commercial exchange.

For the purpose of this award, participants can be drawn from various areas of the fashion sector including - fashion textile, accessories production and design, fashion promotion, fashion marketing, fashion publishing etc. The IYFE award is unique in rewarding entrepreneurial ability. We recognise that a finalist may be active as a fashion designer, but this should be secondary to their focus as an entrepreneur in the promotion of the fashion industry in their country. Excellent English language and communication skills are essential in order to make the most out of the IYFE experience said a spokesman.

Sri Lanka Telecom is the project partner.

For more information on the award, eligibility, criteria, entry details and application forms, log on to www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-arts-and-culture-iyfe09.

 Lamb Promo at 'The Bay Leaf'

Colombo's finest Italian restaurant, 'The Bay Leaf', launches a special Lamb Promotion from 15 - 30 September with a range of presentations.

Among the signature dishes are Insalata con Agnello (Salad with Roast Lamb, Fetta Cheese, Black Olives and Cherry Tomato with Garlic, Herbs and Vinaigrette), Agnello alla Melanese (Oven Braised Lamb Shank with Vegetables, Herbs and Red Wine), Tagliatelle con Arrosto di Agnello (Fresh Pasta tossed with Roast Lamb, Mushrooms, Roasted Bell pepper, Tomatoes, Cream and Parmesan Cheese) and Polpette di Agnello (Oven Braised Lamb Meatballs with Eggplant, Mushrooms, Black Olives Served with fresh Pasta)

 Handicraft marketing village from National Crafts Council

The National Crafts Council (NCC) has finalized arrangements to develop the handicrafts village at the Battaramulla Jana Kala Kendraya premises as a fully equipped handicrafts village with all modern facilities.

The project implement on the directives of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion Minister S.B. Nawinna is estimated to cost Rs. 6.7 million.

The Tourism Ministry which was pledged full sponsorship to the project at the request of NCC Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena has promised to provide Rs. 4.3 million of the project cost.

Minister who is the prime mover of the project said his major objective is to protect local handicrafts as a symbol of Sri Lankan identify and provide local and foreign tourists visiting Colombo a one-stop centre to purchase local handicraft items.

The present NCC handicraft village at the Battaramulla Jana Kala Kendraya in equipped with 14 stalls engaged in the production and sale of handicrafts items.

The new project envisaged to build another 40 stalls. All handicraft artistes throughout the country will be provided with an opportunity to sell their items at this centre by rotating these stalls among them on a monthly basis.

Therefore the new complex will showcase handicraft items of all varieties and regions.

Keerthisena said the construction work would be completed within the next few months so that it could open new vistas for local handicrafts as Sri Lanka’s first and foremost super handicrafts village before the end of this year.

A team of senior officials of the Indian National Bank for Rural and Agricultural Development recently were in Sri Lanka for a study of the SANASA Development Bank activities and the role of the SANASA Development Bank in the field of Micro Finance Management. The study was carried out as a 10 day residential programme at the SANASA Campus at Kegalle belonging to the SANASA Enterprise of Sri Lanka. The leader of the SANASA Enterprise of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of the SANASA Development Bank Vishwa Prasadini Dr. P. A. Kiriwandeniya and the senior management of the SANASA Development Bank with Indian bank officials.