All set for three days of business talk

Tuesday, 12 November 2013 01:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cinnamon Grand is abuzz with Commonwealth Business Forum delegates By Cheranka Mendis Past the security point, the Cinnamon Grand is a flurry of colour with the national flags of 53 member states of the Commonwealth standing at the entryway of the hotel, marking a path for delegates and the limited crew and others with official Commonwealth tags to enter. Inside, there are stalls set up – featuring public enterprises such as the BOI, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Tea Board and Marina and Waterfront Development, as well as private companies such as AMW, Microsoft, Airtel, and Ernst & Young, Sifani, Standard Chartered Bank and Karpowe International. People are busy putting the finishing touches, laying out their brochures and getting things in order. Delegates walk in and out of the hotel, first registering themselves at the desk set up outside, next to the main entrance. Chairs covered in white are laid out row after row in the Atrium, and downstairs in the Oak Room, men are busy putting the final touches to the site that will host the Commonwealth Business Forum today. Cameroon

The hotel is abuzz with CHOGM-related activities. Setting up the stall for Cameroon Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), the official portal of entry for investment into Cameroon, Eloi Djatou expressed excitement over being part of the large forum that will help their country extend its network of business and investment contacts. “This is an opportunity for the public and private sector of Cameroon to showcase our potential to Commonwealth investors,” he said. With its eyes on agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure and construction, the IPA hopes to broaden its connections within the Commonwealth during the sessions. “We are also interested in partnering with Sri Lankan institutes and companies,” Djatou said. “Your Government is good, as are the people. They’ve got the smarts for business.” Back in Sri Lanka reminiscing about his days in the country some 20 years ago, Cameroon Mining Association Chairman Richard Howe expressed his delight to be back and noted that the key intention is to meet investors to promote the mining sector in Cameroon while also promoting the country as a whole. “Cameroon is very active in the Commonwealth. We are here to meet investors.” Namibia Representing the Ministry of Trade and Industry and head of an investment promotion agency in Namibia, Bernadette Artivor noted that a seven-member delegation has come down from Namibia, including the Minister of Trade and Industry, to participate in the forum. “We hope to meet professional associations and counterparts to discuss trends of investment while building our network among the Commonwealth business community,” Artivor said. They are interested in learning from the best, the best practices in trade and investment, she said. They have also brought with them information leaflets on top 10 potential projects in Namibia, which they hope to distribute during the forum. With plans to be here till Friday, Artivor expressed her appreciation to the people of Sri Lanka for the warm welcome extended. “I only arrived on Sunday and it’s been amazing. People are kind-hearted here and always with a smile. They are ever ready to help and this registers well for building connections and networks with other communities.” China

Also at the Cinnamon Grand was China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) Commercial Manager Qiu Bing, who is part of the local delegation. Noting that the Company’s Chairman Sun Bai is expected to arrive in the island for the business forum, Bing stated that as the contractor for some of Sri Lanka’s largest hydro and thermal power plants, the company is delighted to be part of the forum. “We are happy to be part of the biggest forum in Sri Lanka. We are interested to find out the potential investment areas in construction.” The three-day forum will cover a large cross-section of topics, covering the varied areas related to trade, business, investment and development. Over 1,500 delegates are expected to participate in the Commonwealth Business Forum, of which over 650 are said to be international

participants. Pix by Upul Abayasekara