High Commission promotes Sri Lanka Expo 2012 in Birmingham, London

The Sri Lanka High Commission , London UK organised a targeted program of promoting Expo 2012 with lead organisations in Birmingham and London on 15/16 February 2012 in support of the visit of the UK Trade Mission to Colombo for Expo 2012.

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Dr. Chris Nonis visited the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and addressed the members of that Chamber and a well represented gathering of the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Asian Business of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.

He emphasised the overall positive economic indices of the country, the burgeoning opportunities arising in the wake of the economic developmental potential unleashed in the areas of the north and the east of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the restoration of peace and normalcy. In addition to the progress made in reconstruction program, he also took the opportunity to highlight the comprehensive ongoing reconciliation programs undertaken.

The High Commissioner also detailed Sri Lanka’s comparative advantages, as well as the various business ventures, projects available for foreign direct investment or partnership and the variety of investment incentives specifically directed at priority sectors of the economy. An exposition of the advantages and multi-facetted variety of interests and opportunities available for prospective visitors to Expo 2012 was delivered by the Trade Section of the Mission.

Consequently the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce and the UKTI in conjunction with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce have announced their first visit to Sri Lanka which is timed to coincide with the Sri Lanka Expo 2012.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce one of UK’s oldest and most established Business Chambers comprises of a group of prestigious and influential entities as the Burton and District Chambers, Solihull Chamber of Commerce, Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, and the Institute of Asian Business.

The engagement with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce follows and consolidates the initiative taken by the Sri Lanka Mission in UK to consolidate their outreach program of enhancing Sri Lanka’s international trade prospects across the Chambers of Commerce of the UK.

The UKTI in its advisory to the UK Trade Mission to Sri Lanka have noted the strategically important trading activity between the two countries, its pivotal position as Sri Lanka’s second largest market for clothing and textile exports totalling US$ 1 billion citing in particular the importance of the bilateral Higher Education and professional training technology partnerships. The Sri Lanka High Commissioner addressed a diverse range of SME, blue chip and public sector representatives at West London Business a conglomerate of major corporate entities on 16 February 2012 where similar presentations were made on the benefits accruing to members of West London Business who may wish to attend Expo 2012.

At this exposition initiated by the Trade Section of the Mission, Gate Way Asia a Business Consultancy Agency which is assisted by the European Regional Development Fund enlisted a number of companies to join the UK Trade Mission to Colombo to attend Expo 2012.