Members’ Forum to celebrate Ceylon Chamber’s 173 years

Thursday, 22 March 2012 00:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the pioneering business chamber in the country will turn 173 years on 25 March. An anniversary forum for its distinguished members and top corporate personnel will be held on 22 March from 5.30p.m to 8p.m. at the Golden Pond, Hotel Taj Samudra Colombo to celebrate this milestone.

Ceylon Chamber CEO/Secretary General Harin Malwatte stated that the success of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce lies in changing with the times and remaining relevant and effective in what they do. While connecting its members to foreign markets, making valuable contributions to policy making, bringing together key sectors of the economy, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce also constantly shares knowledge and information with its diverse stakeholders.

“Keeping in line with our practice of sharing resources with our stakeholders, we have decided to share the insights of a world renowned economist with our membership at this momentous occasion when the chamber is reaching 173 years,” Malwatte added.

Internationally respected trade and macro economist, Dr. Jayanta Roy, who has around four decades of development experience worldwide will deliver the keynote address on “The impact of global downturn and strategies and actions for South Asian economies to remain competitive.”Dr. Roy is a Senior Economic Adviser to Deloitte Consulting LLP. He provides strategic insight and technical advice and is a thought leader on macroeconomics, energy sector and international trade, especially in the areas of trade and transport facilitation and regional and bilateral trade agreements. Dr. Roy has also served as the Lead Economist of the World Bank for the Europe and Middle East Regions.

He also served as a member of the Task Force on Indirect Taxes constituted by the Government of India in 2002which laid out the roadmap of indirect tax reforms, including trade facilitation reforms. He also represented the Indian private sector in Government of India appointed Joint Study Group in examining the feasibility of free trade agreements with China, Japan, Korea, ASEAN, EU, and Singapore. He has made significant contributions in furthering bilateral economic relations between India and USA and has taught at the World Bank Institute, Cornell University, the University of California at Santa Cruz, the University of Warwick, UK and the Indian Institute of Management at Calcutta. Dr. Roy holds a PhD in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley. The Anniversary Forum will be followed by cocktails.