CCC mission to Spain and Portugal creates great export opportunities

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce undertook a mission to Spain and Portugal recently to explore the opportunities available in these two markets.

The mission was organised with the support of the Sri Lanka Embassy in France which is accredited to Spain and Portugal and the Spanish Consulate in Sri Lanka.

The delegation was led by Samantha Ranatunga, Managing Director/CEO of Chemical Industries (Colombo) PLC and supported by Lanil Waniganayake, Director, Almar Trading Co. (Pte) Ltd. Keerthi Kotagama, Managing Director/CEO, CIC Agri Business (Pvt) Ltd., J.D.R. Sylvester, Country Manager/CEO, Stafford Textiles Ltd. and K. Dayaparan, Per. Pro, Stassen Exports (Pvt) Ltd. The Chamber was represented by Puvi Domingopillai, Consultant.

The meetings were coordinated by the Sri Lanka Embassy in France and all delegates were successful in establishing strong links for tea, coconut products, spices, rubber, fruits and vegetables, foliage and garments. In addition to new contacts they were also able to re-establish and reactivate their existing links.

Each delegate was able to obtain five to six contacts.

Two delegates have already secured orders and negotiations are under way for the others. They will enter into agreements by the end of the year where as for certain products finalisation will take a longer period.

The delegate dealing in garments was extremely successful and he has already entered into two contracts and one is under negotiation. In addition to that one of the companies whom they met have already visited Sri Lanka to discuss further and finalise the deal.

The delegation also had the privilege of meeting with the Confederation of Employers & Industries in Spain which represents over 200 business associations covering industrial/agro and many other services. This organisation has expressed great interest in working closely with the CCC.

Puvi Domingopillai commenting on the mission stated: “Though it was a small delegation it was a very focused mission with three delegates obtaining orders and the other two establishing strong links which would lead to confirmed orders. The CCC is indebted to the Sri Lanka Embassy in France for their tireless efforts in arranging individual meetings in Spain and Portugal and they have proved that the distance is not a barrier for business co-operation. We also wish to place our sincere appreciation to Mrs. Jayawardena, Honorary Consul for Spain in Sri Lanka, who introduced us to some useful contacts in Spain.”