SLSBC concludes successful trade, investment mission to Singapore
A delegation from the Sri Lanka- Singapore Business Council of the
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (SLSBC) successfully concluded a business
mission to Singapore recently.
The business delegation was organized to coincide with the Advisory
Seminar on "Doing business with Sri Lanka", a business forum organized
by IE (International Enterprise) Singapore in association with the High
Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore.
IE Singapore is a Singapore Government agency tasked to promote
overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and international trade.
|
Satheeka Kavisekera, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Hemantha
Kumara, Sarasavi Exports, Thambimuttu
Ragunathan of Raniyo, Vipula Gunatillake of Aitken Spence Co.
Ltd., Kamal Prasad de Zoysa of
Sterling Lanka Group, Janaka Gunasekera of A. Baur & Co.,
Delegation Leader Shamil Mendis H. J. R.
Mendis of Helanka Vacations, Murali Prakash of Brown & Company
PLC and Sabrina Ng of Taj Hotels
Resorts. |
The seminar intended to educate participants on investment
opportunities in Sri Lanka was attended by nearly 100 Singaporean
companies such as APL Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines; a global transportation and
logistics company engaged in shipping, Frasers Hospitality, a world
leader in serviced residences, Freight Links Express Pte. Ltd, a leading
freight forwarder with a global network, Rotary Engineering Limited, a
leading oil and gas infrastructure services company with extensive
international experience offering fully integrated engineering design,
procurement, construction and maintenance, to name a few and members of
the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore-India Chamber of
Commerce were amongst the participants.
The delegation was led by the President of the Sri Lanka-Singapore
Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Shamil Mendis,
Chairman and Managing Director of Spear International (Pvt) Ltd. The 11
member delegation had a remarkably productive visit to Singapore.
In his opening address Capability Development Group of IE Singapore
Group Director Mike Ng emphasized that "Business confidence has
rebounded in Sri Lanka and the country is now focused on attracting
investments, placing the country on a trajectory of growth and
development and Sri Lanka is a country that presents many opportunities
for Singapore companies."
Addressing the gathering Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Sri Lanka
K.V.P Ranjith De Silva, elaborated on the topic "Investment Friendly
Infrastructure in Sri Lanka" focusing on greater Hambantota Development
and other major projects in infrastructure.
Singapore Business Council, Sri Lanka President Shamil Mendis said
the time for investing in Sri Lanka was now and that potential investors
should visit the country without any delay and see for themselves the
varied opportunities available as mentioned by the speakers.
Whilst commending their remarkable foresight, he quoted examples of
business organizations including a leading Singaporean investor who had
earlier invested in Sri Lanka and was now well positioned to benefit
from the upswing in the economy and an internationally reputed hotelier
who had finalized arrangements to establish two hotels of a well-known
chain in Sri Lanka.
Mendis concluded by stating how the Sri Lanka-Singapore Business
Council could facilitate Singapore companies to establish business links
with companies in Sri Lanka. |
