US Ambassador visits Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce

The United States' Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Michele Sison, visited Hambantota on January 18, 2013. As well as taking time to visit the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC), the Ambassador toured the Harbour and Airport development projects taking place in the District. She took the opportunity to exchange views and obtain background knowledge about HDCC and its activities.

HDCC organised a lunch meeting which was attended by HDCC President, Alhaj M. Shaheed Usuph, Vice President, Hemantha Padmalal, Past Presidents, Kumara Jayasinghe, Tilar Nadugala and Azmi Thassim, board members Chithra Sumanasili, Sabeena Mussafer and Suranga Jayawardana, and HDCC CEO, Krishanthi Weerasinghe.

The Ambassador said: "I am looking forward to doing my modest bit to promote and build bilateral relations between USA and Sri Lanka. We would like to increase investment, and are keen to know more about opportunities in the Hambantota District."

The Ambassador mentioned that a US business delegation is coming to Sri Lanka in February and extend an invitation to HDCC to participate. There was also a suggestion that the US Embassy work with HDCC to facilitate links between businesses in the US and Hambantota to promote investment in to the region.

HDCC presented the history of the chamber and how it has developed over the last two decades. Ms. Weerasinghe spoke about the USAID-funded 'Promoting Entrepreneurship and Empowering Women in the Hambantota District' project, which provides business start-up support to local women and capacity building of existing business women.

There was also a discussion of training and capacity building programmes for young people, and HDCC outlined the results of a Southern Provincial Council study of training needs for the next decade, as well as it's own plans for working with young people in the coming years.

Tourism was another area for consideration, and HDCC emphasised the importance of educating local business people and community about opportunities in this industry. HDCC described its 'Deep South' tourism development project, which was initiated with support from Manchester Solutions,UK and Mercy Corps ,USA in 2006.

Mr.Thassim described to the Ambassador its ongoing relationship with the Hon. Namal Rajapasha, MP for Hamabantota District. He has visited HDCC and is keen to provide opportunities to the local business people through the area's development projects. HDCC's sees its role as to work with the Government to maximise benefits for local business people and its work to find practical ways to achieve this is ongoing.

Overall, the meeting was a valuable opportunity for HDCC to strengthen and consolidate its relationship with the US Embassy and demonstrate its dedication to local activities and grass roots approaches. It was also a chance to highlight HDCC's work with national and international Organizations such as VSO ,WUSC, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Asia Foundation, other embassies, including the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and national and local level Government organizations.

HDCC was founded in 1993, and celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013. It was the first chamber of its kind outside Colombo where a group of entrepreneurs had joined forces to form an alliance to promote businesses in a district. HDCC's vision is to act as the 'gateway' for development, ensuring social cohesion and economic success of Hambantota District.

It is a vision that allowed HDCC to continuously develop and pioneer projects that aim to transform the District and give its people a quality of life and advantages similar to those of the more privileged areas in Sri Lanka. For more information visit: www.hdcc.lk