SLSBC concludes successful trade and investment promotion mission to Singapore

The Sri Lanka-Singapore Business Council (SLSBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce successfully concluded a business mission to Singapore from 8-10 November.

The mission was organised in collaboration with the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the Government agency driving Singapore’s external economy and promoting the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and international trade, supported by Singapore Business Federation (SBF); the Apex Business Chamber in Singapore with over 18,000 members and in association with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore.

In the backdrop of the impending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Singapore, there was augmented interest from companies to participate. The 26-member delegation led by the SLSBC Vice President Rohitha Mendis, Managing Director – Prudential Shipping Lines Ltd. resulted in an extremely productive visit to Singapore. 

The delegation comprised Ranga Soysa, Managing Director – Ariel Leisure Ltd., Niduk Perera, Director – Ariel Leisure Ltd., Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, General Partner/Managing Director – BOVCapital Ltd., Tushan Wickramasinghe, Chairman/CEO – Capital Trust Holdings Ltd., Minoli Wickramasinghe, Managing Director – Capital Trust Properties Ltd., Suhayl Sangani, Assistant General Manager – Ceylon Jewellery Manufacturers Ltd., Sriyal Dissanayake, Managing Director – Eastern Maritime (Colombo) Ltd., Mohan Perera, Chairman – GMT Holdings Ltd., Shiluka Goonewardene, Principal – KPMG, Dr. U.K.M Ismail, CEO – Lloyds Auto Mart Ltd., M.I.A. Imraan, Director – Lloyds Auto Mart Ltd., Andre Fernando, Chairman/Managing Director – MAC Holdings Ltd., Tilak Gunawardana, Chief Financial Officer – MAC Holdings Ltd., Ranga Goonawardena, Director/CEO – Macksons Properties Ltd., A. Samson de Silva, Managing Director – S.S Impex Ltd., S. Shah Jahan, Chief Executive Officer – Taipan Trading Company, Ahmed Zaharan, Executive Director – Business Development – Tridel Development Ltd., Sajad Ghaffoor, Associate – Business Development – Tridel Development Ltd., Jurian Druvi Ondaatje, Director/CEO – Vingrows Business Solutions Ltd., Visva Prathirajage, Head of Strategy and Planning – Vingrows Business Solutions Ltd., and Joe Lenora, Managing Director – WAD International Ltd. 

The mission was coordinated by Rasangika De Silva and Julianne Boulton of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The event was attended by close to 100 participants from over 70 well-established Singapore companies including Amara Holdings Limited a key player in hotels, properties, specialty restaurants and food services, Banyan Trees Hotel and Resorts, one of the world’s leading international operators in the hospitality and spa industry, The SingEx group comprising of four closely linked companies that collectively provide a comprehensive range of integrated solutions for venue management and consultancy, exhibition and conference organising services and international exhibition related ventures, Falcon Incorporation, a premier interior fit-out specialist and integrated furniture manufacturer of quality mid to high-end contract and home furniture, App Systems, providing high technology products and critical services for semiconductor, plasma, thin films, vacuum, cryogenic, thermal and bioscience related technologies, Sembcorp Industries, a leading energy, water, marine and urban development group operating across five continents worldwide, to name a few.

The opening remarks were made by High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore Nimal Weeraratne. Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Executive Director Prasanjith Wijayatilake in his speech mentioned the significant and attractive opportunities available for investment in Sri Lanka. Stax did a presentation on available business opportunities in Sri Lanka while Shiluka Goonewardene of KPMG presented on the tax and legal framework of Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering SLSBC Vice President Rohitha Mendis stated that the participation of Sri Lankan delegates in a series of successful seminars and business sessions organised by the Singapore Business Federation and IE Singapore in the past has resulted in productive business contacts and partnerships between Singaporean and Sri Lankan companies. 

Considering Sri Lanka’s rapidly developing status as a regional hub for business Mendis invited potential Singaporean investors to visit Sri Lanka in order to explore the many opportunities available for doing business in the country.

The seminar concluded with scheduled one on one business meetings between the representatives of the Singapore companies and the Sri Lankan delegates as well as with the opportunity for the Singaporeans to interact with the officials of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and clarify matters relating to potential investments.

The delegation also participated in a series of meetings at the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) which provided them an opportunity to network with the senior officials and members.

The Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Singapore Nimal Weeraratne, supported by Nalika Kodikara, First Secretary (Commercial) hosted the members of the delegation for a networking session with Singaporean companies interested in exploring business opportunities during the mission.