COYLE holds pioneering Diplomatic Convergence

The Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) recently conducted yet another pioneering event, the Diplomatic Convergence, which will be an annual event of its calendar hereafter.

Minister of Media and Mass Communication Keheliya Rambukwella, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Neomal Perera and a large number of members from the esteemed diplomatic community in Sri Lanka, including ambassadors, high commissioners and heads of trade and visa representing dozens of countries participated in this event held at Colombo Hilton on 17 January 2012.

While creating a wider awareness on COYLE and its activities, this one-of-its-kind COYLE diplomats’ evening provided a forum for its members, who are the leading entrepreneurs in this country, to interact with the top-end diplomats and share views on international relations.

Delivering his welcome speech at this first-ever fellowship organised by entrepreneurs of the country to the diplomatic community, COYLE Chairman Nayana Dehigama emphasised the purpose of the convergence as developing and consolidating cordial relationships to promote and foster international trade and develop multinational relationships for mutual benefit.

In an era where people across the globe talk about a flat world that would ensure fair trading, equitable distribution of wealth and harmony among diverse communities the role of the entrepreneur in establishing and fostering international trade relationships has become more significant.

Establishment of carefully assessed and mutually benefitted multi-lateral trade relationships are vital for the stability and growth of any emerging economy, said Dehigama.

There are more private sector enterprises than individual countries in the list of biggest entities in the world. This itself justifies the vital role played by entrepreneurs, he said. Sri Lanka is on a growth trajectory and the interaction between the diplomatic community and the dynamic entrepreneurs is timely and very crucial, he added.

COYLE was formed as a business chamber of entrepreneurs in 1999 with the vision to be the most influential and vibrant trade chamber for the young business leaders in Sri Lanka with just 17 members on board. Today its membership has grown to over 100 leading and prominent entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

Members of COYLE contribute immensely to the economic progress, stability and prosperity of the country while raising voice and unbiased opinion on the matters of national importance. As of today, the members own and run over 200 leading business enterprises in diverse sectors and across all industries in the country and they provide in excess of 250,000 employments to our nation. These organisations owned by its members contribute in excess of Rs. 300 billion towards the country’s GDP through local and international trade.

COYLE is quite different to any other commercial or trade chamber operating in Sri Lanka, Dehigama said. Unlike other chambers, the members of COYLE are the ‘entrepreneurs’ who own and run business organisations.

COYLE provides a unique forum to its members through professionalism, brotherhood, and unity. It also promotes family culture within the organisation and has built a strong bond between the families of its members. COYLE Ladies Chapter has been established by the spouses of COYLE members in order to carryout charity and social services.

Over the past 13 years of its existence, COYLE has grown from strength to strength and poised as a champion for promoting entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka. The chamber works very closely with the entrepreneur community, business and political leaders, international trade organisations, diplomatic missions and private and public sector organisations to create fair and business friendly environment in the country.

The members of COYLE have performed extremely well in their own industries even during the most difficult times the country went through past two decades. Many COYLE members have been adjudged as the best entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka and in the Asia Pacific and have been rewarded by various national and international organisations.