Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosts business dialogue with visiting DCCI delegation from Bangladesh

Thursday, 19 June 2025 01:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Exchange of the signed MoU between The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Focus on enhancing trade, investment, and regional collaboration

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, together with the Chamber’s Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Council (SLBBC), at the invitation of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Bangladesh, hosted a high-level Business Dialogue with a visiting delegation from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh, on 17 June 2025 at the Hilton Colombo Residences.

The forum was attended by Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunneththi, as the Chief Guest, and over 100 Sri Lankan business representatives. The DCCI delegation comprised 24 representatives from 22 Bangladeshi companies, covering key sectors such as FMCG, IT, logistics, packaging, agri-processing, apparel, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure.

Addressing the forum, Minister Handunneththi stressed the importance of aligning regional goals through entrepreneurship, innovation, and SME empowerment. “The textile, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, and digital services sectors offer immense opportunities for collaboration. With a renewed focus on transparent governance, logistical connectivity, and investment facilitation, Sri Lanka invites Bangladeshi investors to explore our open economic landscape,” he added.

Welcoming the delegation, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa, reaffirmed the Ceylon Chamber’s commitment to strengthening commercial ties between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. “This forum reflects our strategic focus on engagement and market access. It is our aim to connect our private sectors and create sustainable partnerships for trade, investment, and joint ventures,” he stated.

Highlighting the resilience and pro-business nature of the Bangladeshi private sector, he noted that while both countries enjoy strong bilateral relations, there remains untapped potential in trade volumes and investment flows that must be realised through deeper private sector collaboration.

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Andalib Elias, and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, also addressed the gathering and acknowledged the role of business chambers in promoting cross-border economic cooperation.

Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Council President Dr. Asanka Ratnayake shared key initiatives undertaken since the Council’s inception in October 2023. These include stakeholder engagements for the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), webinars in partnership with BIDA and E&Y, and plans to promote Sri Lanka as a destination for Bangladeshi outbound tourism.

The event featured over 200 B2B matchmaking meetings, connecting over 90 Sri Lankan companies with their Bangladeshi counterparts. Participants exchanged business ideas, investment interests, and explored collaborative opportunities.

A significant aspect of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Dhaka Chamber and The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, aimed at fostering bilateral trade and investment and enhancing private sector cooperation.

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