Business Leaders’ take on MTI business outlook 2013

Friday, 11 January 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The MTI 2013 CEO Business Outlook Survey, which saw the participation of 150 CEO from diverse industries/sizes, has been well received by the CEOs and the business community as a balanced and insightful outlook for 2013.

We publish below a cross-section of the post MTI Survey comments by some of the CEOs who took part in the survey

“The CEO business outlook survey for 2013 by MTI clearly indicates a mixed outcome on the outlook for Sri Lankan businesses. It has provided an interesting insight into what business leaders actually expect in 2013.

“For HSBC, given our global footprint and the knowledge and experience in dealing with a variety of clients in key markets, we are well placed to support our customers in Sri Lanka to explore new business opportunities from a local, regional and global perspective.

“We will be supporting the country’s aspiration to support tourism, build up infrastructure and take local companies to the offshore bond markets,” said HSBC Sri Lanka and the Maldives CEO Nick Nicolaou.

“I believe the MTI CEO survey report has captured the essence of the business sentiment and challenges for Sri Lankan businesses in 2013 in an incisive yet concise manner, which must be commended.

“There is little more to add but suffice to say that businesses will look to the Government to steer the country’s macro economic and fiscal agenda wisely ensuring stability and address the gaps in governance that is vital for good business and the society at large.

“Businesses focussed on the local market will have to reignite consumption and volume growth, while exporters will have to employ more innovative strategies and enter white space categories and markets to accelerate export growth,” said Unilever Sri Lanka Chairman Amal Cabraal.

“I see 2013 as a challenging year, particularly for the automotive/leasing sectors. Congratulations on compiling realistic CEO business outlook for 2013,” said AMW President Tilak De Zoysa.

“While most global challenges will continue into 2013, agile responses are required locally alongside the Infrastructure investment drive to create a conducive business environment. I expect overall corporate performance to improve slightly above 2012 demonstrating the entrepreneurial drive of our corporate sector.

“My congratulations to MTI for a short and sharp survey capturing the sentiments of CEO’s on the global economy, perceived challenges locally and expectations on achieving growth In their own businesses, the format was user friendly and simple,” said E&Y Sri Lanka Managing Partner Asite Talwatte.

“A valuable survey of business sentiment, particularly on what CEOs in Sri Lanka thinks how the global and Sri Lanka economies will pan out in 2013.

“I am sure 2013 will be a better year than 2012 for all of us here in Sri Lanka although we have several major business challengers to overcome,” said Heraymila Securities Direct CEO Ravi Abeysuriya.