High level Omani business delegation concludes productive visit to Sri Lanka

The first-ever visit of a 17 member high-level Omani business delegation to Sri Lanka from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman from 5 to 9 March 2022 has successfully concluded. The high-level business delegation was led by the OCCI Chairman Eng. Redha Bin Juma Al Saleh who is the sole representative of the entire private sector of Oman. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman Ameer Ajwad received the delegation at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Sri Lanka and accompanied the delegation on their visit.  

The purpose of the visit was to explore opportunities available in trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the Sultanate of Oman and to establish business links between the private sectors of the two countries. 

The delegation paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, briefed him on the progress made during their visit and expressed their keen interest in closer economic engagement with Sri Lanka. Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake were also present during the meeting. 

The delegation also had productive meetings with the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva together with State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Priyankara Jayaratne as well as State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya during the visit. A range of areas of mutual interest including promotion of trade, investment, tourism, employment opportunities were discussed. The Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Sri Lanka Sheikh Juma Hamdan Al Shehhi also participated in the meetings. 

Members of the Omani delegation who represented Omani manpower recruitment agencies met with Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman and discussed issues relating to Sri Lankan labour recruitment in Oman and agreed to increase employment opportunities under Government-regulated arrangements. 

One of the highlights of the visit was the Business Forum followed by B2B meetings held between the visiting Omani delegation and their Sri Lankan counterparts, organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) at the Chamber Auditorium in Colombo. A large number of Sri Lankan companies participated during the B2B meetings. Ambassador Ameer Ajwad, NCCSL President Nandika Bhuddipala, OCCI Chairman Eng. Redha Al Salih addressed the Business Forum. Presentations by the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) as well as the Colombo Port City were made during the Forum, highlighting the opportunities available for investments in Sri Lanka. The Chairpersons of the NCCSL and the OCCI physically signed the MoU, which was virtually signed in July last year between the two Chambers for the promotion of business between two countries. A Letter of Intent (LoI) between Sri Lanka’s popular Ayurvedic Company Siddhalepa Ltd., and Oman’s Lama Poly Clinic LLC was signed introducing Siddhalepa Ayurvedic products and services in the Sultanate of Oman. 

The Omani business delegation had a fruitful meeting with the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation (STC) and discussed ways and means for trading between Sri Lanka’s State sector and Oman’s private sector. During the meeting with the Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the Omani business delegation was briefed on different investment opportunities in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka and it was proposed to organise joint programs for tourism promotion between the two countries.  BOI Executive Director of Katunayake Export Processing Zone made a presentation to the visiting Omani business delegation on the BOI operations and opportunities available for investment in Sri Lanka.

 The Omani business delegation also met with the President of Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) and explored opportunities for collaboration in the ICT and BPM sectors. The delegation also interacted with the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and both sides exchanged information about doing business in both countries. The members of the delegation also met with the Chairman of the Coconut Research Board as well as representatives from the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association. 

During the visit, the Omani delegation also undertook field visits to the factories and companies of popular Sri Lankan brands such Akbar Brother’s Tea Packing Centre, SMAK Food Processing Factory, Isabella Apparel Factory at Katunayake Free Trade Zone and Siddhalepa Ayurveda Hospital at Dehiwala -Mount Lavinia. The delegation also visited the Colombo Port City project - Sri Lanka’s new special economic zone reclaimed from the sea. 

State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya hosted an official dinner in honour of the visiting OCCI high-level delegation at Waters Edge, Sri Lanka. 

The members of the delegation included OCCI Board member and Committee on Services and Information Technology Chairman Ali Hamdan Al Ajmi, Board member and the South A Sharqia Governorate Chairman Anwar Hamed Said Al Sinani, leading Omani private sector company Chairperson and CEO Khalid Mohamed Salim Al Saeed as well as Chairpersons and CEOs of leading Omani private sector companies in different sectors including construction, consultancy, medical services, food supply, advertising services, manufacturing of medical equipment, fruits and vegetables, food supply, garments, building material, electronics, manpower supply, conference management etc. 

The visit by high-level Omani business delegation to Sri Lanka was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oman.