CCC mission to Chile

Visit of strategic importance:

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit commenced its first plan of action for 2009 with a successful Business Promotion Mission to Chile.

Requests received from members expressing their interest in exploring this market, backed by Chile being ranked as the No.1 Latin American Country to do business with and the fact that Chilean economy emphasizes trade and investment and is recognized around the world for openness and stability, prompted the CCC to initiate this mission.

This is the first occasion the CCC ventured into the South American market.

The delegation met with the officials of SOFOFA, Federation of Chilean Industry and the National Chamber of Commerce in Santiago.

These two meetings offered the delegates an opportunity of obtaining an insight into the Chilean economy, the business climate and how to enter this market.

Both chambers were impressed by the presentation made by the team leader Managing Director/CEO of Chemical Industries Colombo CIC PLC Samantha Ranatunga gave a comprehensive picture on Sri Lanka’s economy, advantages of investing in Sri Lanka and trade prospects with Sri Lanka.

The National Chamber of Commerce in Santiago was very much interested in linking up with the CCC and offered to enter into a MOU.

The CCC welcomed this suggestion and extended an invitation to them to bring a reciprocal mission next year which was considered very favourably by them.

The One-to-One business meetings organized by the Santiago Chamber of Commerce afforded opportunities for the visiting delegation to establish contacts with their counterparts. The main sectors covered by the delegates were export of tea, spices, D/C, writing instruments, import of canned fish, fish related products, chemicals and freight forwarding services.

Ranatunga said overall the visit was very promising and gave a great insight to the Chilean economy. From CIC’s point of view, we see opportunities in exporting our writing instrument range to Chile. Already negotiations are in its final stages.

The members from the tea sector also had very good responses to their product range. Those handling spices and D/C too were successful in establishing strong contacts which they have to follow-up on’. To sum up he said ‘it was a visit of great strategic importance’.

Consultant, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Puvi Domingopillai speaking on behalf of the CCC said they are happy that they gave an opportunity to the members to explore this market. In addition to establishing links, this also served as a fact finding mission.

We are confident that in given time, the links established by our delegates with their counterparts in Santiago, will lead to partnerships. We are most grateful to Consul for Sri Lanka in Santiago Sebastian Vicuna and Consul for Chile in Sri Lanka Mano Selvanathan who supported us in numerous ways in making this mission a success.