Switzerland, Bahrain and Croatia want to boost commercial ties in talks with Ceylon Chamber

The envoys of Switzerland, Bahrain and Croatia held discussions with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently to find ways and means of exploring trade, tourism and investment opportunities between Sri Lanka and their respective countries.

The first to arrive at the Chamber was Amir Muhareni, the Croatian envoy for several South Asian countries including Sri Lanka. 

During his meeting with the local business community held at the Chamber premises, Muhareni stressed on the 500 million strong EU market, which Sri Lanka can focus on through Croatia. 

He invited the Sri Lankan companies to build partnerships or joint ventures with the Croatian firms across multiple sectors in order to tap the EU market.

Former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Thilak De Zoysa, who is also the Honorary Consular for Croatia in Sri Lanka, chaired this meeting.

Meanwhile, Maram Al-Saleh, Deputy Envoy of Bahrain for Sri Lanka, during her meeting held with Mangala P. B. Yapa, CEO/Secretary General of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, expressed interest in finding out potential opportunities existing in the country.

In response, Yapa said that both parties should work together and identify a list of potential working areas in order to move forward.

Heinz Walker Nedekoorn, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, during his discussions with the Chamber said that the European nation was willing to play a greater role in Sri Lanka’s commercial sector. He said Swiss investors were waiting to travel to the island but he was holding back until the current political situation settled down.

Senior Assistant Secretary General of the Ceylon Chamber Lilakshini De Mel also took part in the meetings, which ended with agreement to initiate follow-up action.