Lanka, Russia bilateral trade tops $ 353 mn

The world’s biggest oil giant has invited Sri Lanka for its topmost international industry event.

“Our friendship is historic. Now we want to strengthen this historic friendship towards better trade and industrial cooperation as well. We invite a high level Sri Lankan industrial delegation to this year’s international level INNOPROM expo event in Russia,” said Konstantin Kosachev, the visiting Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independence States-Russia (who is also a Special Advisor to Russian President on CIS Countries) on May 17.

Kosachev, who was decorated with the Order of Friendship (Russia) and was an assistant for International Affairs of the three Russian Prime Ministers, met Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of on May 17 in Colombo. Kosachev was meeting Minister Bathiudeen to seek Lanka’s support in Russia’s bid for hosting the Expo 2020 which is to be decided by the Bureau of International Expositions in Paris. “We invite a high level Sri Lankan industrial delegation to our international INNOPROM expo event this year. INNOPROM annual event is Russia’s leading industrial and innovation event of international scale and this year too, it’s held in Ekaterinburg in July. This year’s theme is ‘Global Industry’” said Kosachev and said, “In Russia, Sri Lanka is already known for its Tea but not much for other industries, specially manufacturing. This event could open new opportunities for Sri Lankan manufacturing in the Russian market.”

The 2012 INNOPROM held in Russia’s fourth largest city Ekaterinburg saw 38 foreign delegations from 32 countries and also Dmitry Medvedev -the Russian Prime Minister- in attendance. Among the global corporate giants attending the event in Russia -the no 1 oil producer economy in the world-were Siemens AG, TMK, the Scania Group, Siempelkamp Group, Formika and KÄRCHER GmbH.