Thai, Lanka business networking forum held

Sara Pathirana

With the focal aim at strengthening bilateral relations between Thailand and Sri Lanka, a business networking forum was held recently in Colombo where a group of representatives from respective enterprises from both countries were present to interactively explore business opportunities with each other.

The event was conducted with the theme of ‘Strengthening Thailand-Sri Lanka Business Partnership,’ which was organized by The Royal Thai Government and The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC). A Thai delegation from the fields of medical tourism, gem and jewellery, energy/green economy, tourism related industries, construction and real estate being among them, were present along with Sri Lankan parties to interact and discuss potential business opportunities.

At the networking session, business representatives from various business fields interacted among each other and a lot of interest was focused on promotion aspects in sectors such as fisheries, optics and outbound tourism.

“We have entered a new phase since the last investment promotion in 1996. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Board of Investments of Thailand and Sri Lanka was instigated to help facilitate and incorporate more order of investments and trade and govern a taxation governance is being worked on to help relieve the burden of double taxation between the two countries.” Piyawat Niyomrerks, Vice Minister, Industry of Thailand acknowledged.

Dr. Mahesha Danasoma, President of Sri Lanka-Greater Mekong Sub region Business Council, CCC said that the business council was initially set up in 2010 to bring forth potential business prospects between Vietnam and Sri Lanka and gradually expanded to cover the Asian sub regional countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. These countries give out a great sign for bi-lateral trade with Sri Lanka and there are deeper cultural ties between our countries that are beneficial towards investing and trade promotions.