Sri Lanka and Benelux private sectors forge new alliances

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Chandana Weerasena

Belgian Ambassador to New Delhi Didier Vanderhasselt

Exchange of the MoU by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretary General and CEO Shiran Fernando (second from left) and BELGOLUX–Sri Lanka Business Council President Thomas De Beule. Sri Lanka–Benelux Business Council President Farhath Amith (left) and BELGOLUX–Sri Lanka Business Council Secretary General Sampath Tennakoon look on – Pix by Ruwan Walpola

• 20-member business delegation from Belgium and Luxembourg in Sri Lanka for a week-long visit
• Key MoU signed to foster greater collaboration
• Economic mission includes visits to longstanding investments from Benelux, expert presentations on opportunities in Sri Lanka and B2B meetings 

By Nisthar Cassim

The private sectors of Sri Lanka and Benelux countries Belgium and Luxembourg this week forged new alliances aimed at boosting trade and investments. 

Spearheading the initiative was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed yesterday between The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), its affiliate Sri Lanka–Benelux Business Council (SLBBC), and the BELGOLUX–Sri Lanka Business Council (BLSBC), along with a business forum, series of business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and related engagements coinciding with a near 20-member delegation from Belgium and Luxembourg.

The BELGOLUX economic mission to Sri Lanka from 16 to 21 June is being organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Belgium and the BLSBC, in collaboration with the CCC, SLBBC, and several other State and private sector institutions. Frontwalker Sri Lanka, a Belgium-based IT solutions company which has been operating in Sri Lanka for the past three decades, is the Exclusive Title Partner.

The delegation represents the food and beverage, ICT, energy, business consultancy, financial services, manufacturing, trading, and technology sectors, among others. The Luxembourg Stock Exchange is also represented in this delegation, which is joined by the Ambassadors of Belgium and Luxembourg. 

On Wednesday, the Benelux delegation visited United Tobacco Processing Ltd., a Belgium cigar manufacturing company operating since 1987 at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ), whilst today, they will attend an economic forum at Port City Colombo and will tomorrow visit the Southern province to further explore investment and tourism opportunities as well as experience the southern culture.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU Chandana Weerasena and Belgian Ambassador to New Delhi Didier Vanderhasselt emphasised the vast potential to further enhance economic and business ties between the private sectors of Sri Lanka, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Opportunities to collaborate on investments and technology in multiple new areas including logistics, business process outsourcing (BPO), agribusiness, and renewable energy, were also emphasised.

Ambassador Vanderhasselt, who is completing his term, said on Monday he called on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and is scheduled to call on Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath as Sri Lanka and Belgium brace to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2028. He said that Belgium, along with the EU, are committed to support the economic reform agenda as Sri Lanka continues to recover. 

At yesterday’s business forum, Content Management and Solutions, Lydies Diamonds, and Frontwalker Group CEO Jesper Jacquet showcased the progress of their investments in Sri Lanka. CCC Secretary General/CEO Shiran Fernando, BLSBC President Thomas De Beule, and SLBBC President Farhath Amith also addressed the event, which was followed by B2B meetings between visiting Benelux companies and Sri Lankan entities.