Webinar held on ‘Sri Lanka-Nepal business environment and opportunities for collaborations’

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Nepal and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce came together to organise a webinar on ‘Sri Lanka-Nepal business environment and opportunities for collaboration’ on 31 March. The webinar showcased the potential of the respective markets in Nepal and Sri Lanka for investment, and highlighted opportunities for trade and business collaborations. 

Giving the welcome remarks, Deputy Secretary General of the Ceylon Chamber Alikie Perera noted that bilateral trade remained marginal while there was potential to diversify Sri Lanka’s exports to Nepal and identify exports from Nepal to Sri Lanka. She also highlighted tourism as a potential area for joint promotion. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Nepal Himalee Arunatilaka remarked that the webinar is timely and could be a launching pad for trade and business cooperation to be developed between Sri Lanka and Nepal. She said the webinar aimed at boosting business confidence, and identify opportunities for private sector collaboration.

Managing Director/Panchakanya Group and former President of the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pradeep Kumar Shrestha and Chairman of the Samundra Group and Secretary of the Nepal Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ram Raja Acharya participated as resource persons from Nepal. They gave an overview of the Nepal economy, investment climate and opportunities as well as potential trade commodities that can be developed. From Sri Lanka, Acting Director/Industrial Products of the Export Development Board Harsha Pathberiya made a presentation on the export products promoted by Sri Lanka and the Island’s strategic advantage for manufacturing and export services.

Areas highlighted as having potential for collaboration included hydropower, agriculture and agro products, tourism, construction, mines and minerals, financial services, health and education. Prospects for trade in a range of products were also discussed, while recognising the transport challenges for bilateral trade and the desirability of having direct air connectivity.

Over 50 participants from Sri Lanka and Nepal took part in the webinar and actively engaged during the discussion with their queries. The Embassy will be coordinating with the Ceylon Chamber to facilitate B2B meetings as a 

follow up.

The webinar was organised at the initiative of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Sri Lankan Embassy and the active support of the Nepal 

Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.