Bilateral Business Councils reach out to overseas markets

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The Bilateral Business Councils of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce facilitates introduction of local and overseas business links in assisting export and import procedures to expand the export base.

These councils work towards the enhancing of trade and investment promotion opportunities and provide advisory services to improve access to market information, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Bilateral Business Council Division Head Lilakshi De Mel told Daily News Business.

The Business Councils Division which acts as the trade and investment arm of the CCC encompasses 21 Bilateral Business Councils covering almost the entire globe.

These Councils were formulated by the Chamber with the objective of promoting trade, investment, services, tourism and joint ventures between Sri Lanka and the relevant country. Functioning under the purview of the CCC, the 21 councils cover Africa and the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, Benelux Countries, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Maldive Islands, Malaysia, Nordic Countries, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam.

"These 21 Bilateral Business Councils act as a link towards expansion of trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the said countries.

The needs of the Business Council members are met by CCC's Bilateral Business Council Division through facilitation of services such as inbound and outbound trade promotion missions, trade contacts, seminars and meetings with relevant embassy officials.

These offer them opportunities to have a direct dialogue with the parties concerned," she said. CCC, the foremost business chamber in Sri Lanka, caters to the business needs of over 3,000 establishments through its direct and indirect membership where the service needs of these organizations are met.

Among them are introduction of local and overseas business links, facilitation of export/import procedures, expansion of trade and investment promotion opportunities, advisory services on trade related issues, economic updates, seminars, networking sessions and many more.

The Business Councils Division in association with the CCC will be organizing trade, tourism and investment promotion mission to Vietnam, Poland and Bulgaria, the Maldives, France, Germany, South and West Africa, Singapore, New Zealand and China in 2012.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is an effective spokesman of the Sri Lankan business sector. Founded in 1839, the institution has been the focal point for business contacts both locally and abroad for more than 172 years.

It has many specialized committees, affiliated associations and 21 bilateral business councils promoting international business. Its members serve on various institutions and committees set up by the Government and the private sector.