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 recently. 

The mission was organised to coincide with the SBF Seminar on Doing Business and Opportunities in Sri Lanka followed by One-to-One Business Meetings which was organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF); the Apex Business Chamber in Singapore with over 18,000 members, closely supported by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the Government Agency driving Singapore’s external economy and promoting the overseas growth of Singapore-based enterprises and international trade, and in association with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore.

The 18 member delegation led by the SLSBC President Shamil Mendis, Chairman/Managing Director of Spear Global Holdings Ltd. resulted in an extremely productive visit to Singapore. 

The Sri Lankan delegation with members of the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI)

The delegation comprised Access International Projects Ltd. Director, Chief Operating Officer Chris Chandiram, BOV Capital Ltd. General Partner and Lanka Angel Network Founder/Director Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, Capitol Developers Ltd. Chairman Mahen Weerasekera, Hayleys Free Zone Ltd. Director Amal Rodrigo, John Keells Holdings PLC Roshanie Jayasundera Moraes, KPMG Principal – Deal Advisory Shiluka Goonewardene, MAC Holdings Projects Ltd. Chairman/Managing Director Andre Fernando, Omak Technologies Ltd. Chief Executive Officer M.D.E. Sirisena, CEO/Director Nirupa Peiris, Business Development Manager Sharmaine Delile and Property20 Ltd. Consultant Ahmed Zaharan, Prudential Shipping Lines Ltd. Managing Director Rohitha Mendis, Spear Global Holdings Ltd. Satheeka Kavisekera, Sunshine Travel & Tours Ltd. Board Director Rajat Nagpal, and Valdhue & Walker Ltd. Director U.C. Bandaranayake.

The delegation was joined by Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Director General/CEO Duminda Ariyasinghe. The mission was co-ordinated by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Manager Julianne Boulton.

The objective of the SBF Seminar was to educate Singaporean companies on the potential opportunities in doing business with Sri Lanka. The event was attended by over 90 participants from 74 well established Singapore companies including Amara Holdings Ltd., a recognised brand name in hotels, properties, specialty restaurants and food services, Capella Hotel Group a top provider of hotel management services for unique hotels, resorts and spas, Frasers Hospitality Ltd. a global leader in serviced hotel residences and boutique lifestyle hotels with close to 136 properties spanning 78 world’s major cities and international gateways in Asia, Australia, Middle East, Africa and Europe, The Ascotts Ltd., the world’s largest serviced residence owner-operator and a Singapore-owned company with over 29,000 operating serviced residence units worldwide, F&N Food Ltd., a leading player in the food and beverage sector in Singapore and Malaysia, Malaysia Dairy Industries Ltd., a leading dairy and beverage company with annual sales revenue of more than S$ 260 million in Singapore and RM 600 million in Malaysia, DCG Capital Ltd., offers fund management activities to assist their clients in managing their Singapore and Asian equities as well as balanced mandates for investors, Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., a leading engineering and construction company in Singapore, Meinhardt Group with 45 offices worldwide provides engineering consulting capabilities Civil and Infrastructure, Planning and Urban Development, Structural Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Engineering, Project Management, Water and Environment, Vacation Singapore Dmc Ltd., one of Singapore’s leading destination management company, which is equipped and experienced to support the leisure, cruise and M.I.C.E. business segments to name a few. 

The Sri Lankan delegation at the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) with officials of IE Singapore, the SBF and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka

The opening remarks were made by Singapore Business Federation and South Asia Business Group Vice Chairman Dr. R. Theyvendran, while the keynote address was made by High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore Nimal Weeraratne.

Addressing the gathering SLSBC President Shamil 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.

Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Director General/CEO Duminda Ariyasinghe made a detailed presentation on the Business Environment and Economic Developments in Sri Lanka.

Manager – South Asia, International Enterprise, Singapore Arthur Teng spoke on Sectorial Opportunities for Singapore Companies in Sri Lanka, while KPMG, Sri Lanka Principal – Deal Advisory Shiluka Goonewardene made a presentation on setting up a business and taxation in Sri Lanka.

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 official from the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and clarify matters relating to potential investments.

The delegation also participated in a series of meetings with companies arranged by the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) which provided them an opportunity to network with their respective member companies and senior officials of the two Chambers.

The Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Singapore Nimal Weeraratne supported by Second Secretary (Commercial) Rekha Mallikarachchi hosted the members of the delegation for a networking session with Singaporean companies interested in exploring business opportunities and members of the Singapore Sri Lanka Business Association (SLBA) during the mission.