CCC instrumental establishing SL-Africa and Middle East Business Council

Samantha Ranatunga, Managing Director/CEO, Chemical Industries (Colombo) PLC, Mission leader to Egypt, Ghana and Togo invited the business community in those countries to visit Sri Lanka and see the adundant opportunities available for foreign investors.

He is also the President, Sri Lanka – Africa and Middle East Business Council and he led a mission to these countries to promote trade and investment in those countries.

This Business Council is the 20th Business Council formed by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Their maiden trade and investment promotion mission to Egypt, Ghana and Togo was made during the beginning of December last year. The main purpose of this mission is to enter in to a niche market and exploring the possibility of establishing business contacts.

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Egypt organized one to one business meetings for the delegates in association with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Egypt. Businessmen Association and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce & Industry enabling members of the delegation to interact with potential business partners in addition to individual business meetings arranged with main importing agencies of the Government of Egypt.

During the visit to Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce renewed its Memorandum of Understanding to further enhance bilateral trade and investment between Sri Lanka and Egypt.

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that this is the first occasion a group of businessmen from Sri Lanka visited Ghana and Togo on a trade and investment promotion mission. Ghana, despite the global financial crisis, has shown a remarkable increase in its GDP. Being a West African country with a wide array of natural resources, Ghana is considered to be the world’s second largest Gold exporting market.

Based on the success of the mission, the Sri Lanka – Africa and Middle East Business Council will organize a Pavilion at the 43rd Cairo International Trade Fair, scheduled to be held from 11th to 22nd March, 2010 in Cairo. Products such as Coconut & Coconut based products including Coco peat, Rubber products, Tea, Ceramic & Porcelain ware, Herbal products and Spices will have a tremendous potential to enter not only to Egypt but also to the African continent since Egypt is identified as the “Gateway to Africa”.

In addition to displaying and promoting products/services, the Council in association with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Egypt and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce & Industry will be organizing business networking sessions for the exhibitors.

- Asian Tribune -