FCCISL signs MOU with Indian entrepreneurs to expand biz ties

Thursday, 11 November 2010 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Hindu: A 13-member delegation of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), an organisation of entrepreneurs, which visited Sri Lanka, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) recently to expand business ties.

The Sri Lankan Government’s commitment to ensure lasting peace through development has thrown open good business opportunities, according to Murali Gopalan, President, TIE Kerala, who signed the MOU on behalf of the organisation.

The team held discussions with Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce, Minister of Agriculture, Deputy High Commissioner, senior officials of the Board of Investment (BOI), Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), and Chief Executive of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL).

Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, invited Kerala businessmen to invest in agro processing units, educational institutions and even in setting up universities, according to TIE.

Tourism is one area with great potential with Sri Lanka targeting 2.5 million tourists by 2016. Jose Dominic, one of the delegates, said tourism is one area Kerala can invest profitably.

Kerala can tap opportunities in engineering, management and vocational education, according to Ravi Deecee, another delegate. With high quality of life and hygiene standards, both Lanka and Kerala could be ideal partners in healthcare projects, said C. Balagopal, Managing Director, Terumo Penpol.