FCCISL delegation to Iran from 5 to 7 December

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) is organising a business delegation to Iran from 5-7 December to coincide with the visit of the President of the Confederation for Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in which the FCCISL is a focal point in Sri Lanka.

The programme will consist of courtesy calls and meetings with Minister of Trade, Deputy Minister of Trade/President of the Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO), authorities of Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of Industries and Mines, and Organisation for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran.

Meetings with the president of Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Mines (ICCIM) and Iranian businessmen are also highlights of this programme. This will be an opportunity to gather firsthand information on the business situation in Iran and to meet the top businessmen in Iran.

The visit will also coincide with two exhibitions – the second Exhibition on Capabilities of Iranian Exporters Associations and the second Exhibition on Services Export.

Sri Lanka’s exports to Iran have increased from Rs. 7,451 m in 2005 to Rs. 16,739 m in 2009. The two main products exported to Iran are black tea in bulk and tea packets. Other products exported include coconuts, desiccated coconuts, trailers, MDF boards, instruments, tobacco, bicycles, coconut fibre, activated carbon, green tea, copra, ceramic products, natural rubber, sausages, rubber tyres, machinery parts and preparations for hair, etc.

The main industrial sectors being promoted by Iran to foreign investors include oil and petrochemical industry, packaging, ICT, mining, nano technology, financial services, tourism and business services.

The FCCISL has already signed a MoU with the ICCIM, with the objective to “promote, strengthen and expand trade, investment, economic, scientific and technological cooperation between enterprises, entrepreneurs and organisations in Iran and Sri Lanka.”

The ninth session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka was held in Colombo from 13-15 September 2010. During this meeting, both sides discussed the effective implementation of the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed by the two countries in 2006.

Under this PTA, Iran has proposed to offer tariff concessions for 160 products in Sri Lanka. The FCCISL invites those who are interested to join this business delegation to Iran. For further details contact [email protected].