European-South Asian company matchmaking exercise timely - Prof.
G. L. Peiris
The initiative by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to bring together
companies in Southern Europe and in South Asia to pool their collective
expertise and forging productive links among them will result in immense
benefits to both regions, Export Development and International Trade
Minister Professor G. L. Peiris said at the inauguration.
Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L.
Peiris addressing the Forum. |
Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission Bernard
Savage who expressed his pleasure that the European Commission was able
to support this timely and practical initiative.
Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Jayampathy Bandaranayake
said three countries in Southern Europe - Spain, Greece and Slovania -
were joining with Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in South Asia in this
exercise.
“The corporate sector, which is today bearing the brunt of the
fallout from the global economic meltdown, will no doubt find the
synergies and complementarities among South Asian and European companies
a useful means of alleviating their problems and increasing their
competitiveness during a challenging period,” Prof. Peiris said.
He pointed out that European companies could derive benefits from the
inherent strengths and advantages of Sri Lanka. Among these strengths,
he continued, were the country’s geographical location, its bilateral
trade relationships especially in the form of free trade agreements with
India and Pakistan, its market friendly economy, combined with strong
banking, financial and administrative systems, and the effective
mechanisms of the Board of Investment.
More significant than all these, the Minister said were the unique
vistas of opportunity now available for economic development with the
advent of a stable peace.
He explained to the entrepreneurs present the main elements of the
relief measures adopted by the Government to help local industry,
especially export oriented industry, overcome the challenges posed by
the global economic situation.
The Export Development Board is currently engaging in discussion with
representatives of key sectors of the economy to ensure implementation
of these measures in the most beneficial manner, he concluded.
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary-General of the Ceylon Chamber
of Commerce, Harin Malwatte commented on the opportunities which this
program made available to the private sector. |