Sri Lankan Minister says Sri Lanka and Kenya could mutually benefit through closer business ties
Sri Lanka’s State Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade, Sujeewa Senasinghe has reportedly said that Sri Lanka and Kenya could mutually benefit through closer business ties due to their strategic locations.
The Minister has made this observation during a recent visit to the East African state.
Senasinghe, who led a business delegation, has been quoted as saying in the media that Kenya is the gateway to East Africa, while Sri Lanka, with its growing free trade agreement network, is the gateway to Asia.
He has said this at the Sri Lanka-Kenya Business Forum organized by the Sri Lanka High Commission in Nairobi.
According to reports, the private sector delegation comprised of representatives from Hettigoda Industries Ltd, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, Orient Lanka Confectionary Ltd, Synex Holdings and Synex International Pvt Ltd, St Theresa Industries (Kenya) Ltd. and Ceylon Agro-Industries Limited.
They had the opportunity to meet prospective buyers, wholesalers and Kenyan entrepreneurs.
The Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KNCCI) and the High Commission briefed the Sri Lanka delegation on the business environment in Kenya and opportunities available for Sri Lankan companies in the areas of Fast Moving Consumer Goods and light engineering.
Senasinghe has said that Kenya and Sri Lanka are not rivals, and can grow together through collaboration.
The Minister has invited a Kenyan business delegation to visit Sri Lanka, and called for an increase in the number of business visits between the two countries.
Kenya will be hosting the 2nd Joint Trade Committee of the two countries, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba has told Senasinghe during a meeting.
OSL take:
The discussion between Sri Lanka’s State Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade with Kenyan authorities and the holding of the Sri Lanka-Kenya Business Forum indicate the growing ties between Sri Lanka and Kenya. This provides an excellent opportunity for Sri Lankan based companies to explore investment opportunities in Kenya and vice versa.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/11092018/Z_5 |