Asia-Pacific business leaders gather in Colombo for CACCI 39th Conference
Daily FT: The 39th Annual Conference and Expo of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) opened in Colombo yesterday, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from 28 member nations under the theme “Entrepreneurship in the Asian Century”.
Hosted by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the two-day event at Cinnamon Life City of Dreams marked the first time Sri Lanka has hosted the regional business summit, which has been held annually since 1966.
CACCI is a regional organisation spanning 28 member countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and others across South and East Asia, Central Asia, and the Pacific.
As an umbrella network of national and regional chambers, CACCI works to strengthen private-sector collaboration across the Asia-Pacific, promoting trade, investment, and entrepreneurship. It serves as a platform for policy advocacy, training, and regional dialogue, complementing the work of its member chambers and helping businesses navigate globalisation.
Through its annual conferences, presidential visits, alliances with international institutions, and policy and research initiatives, CACCI positions itself as a steward of private enterprise, fostering cooperation among Asia-Pacific business leaders to drive sustainable and inclusive growth across the region.
CACCI brings together national chambers across Asia-Pacific, representing nearly three billion people and a combined GDP of approximately $ 18-20 trillion, positioning it as one of the largest regional private-sector networks in the region.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is now an emerging business destination in the South Asian region and is on the path to becoming a regional hub, given the ongoing economic activities and overall economic expansion. Sri Lanka’s strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean, the many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed with many foreign countries and the improving ease of doing business environment have added to the country’s attraction as a business/investment destination. The country is continuing to attract many foreign businesses/investors by its economic resilience, strength and growth. All these factors have also resulted in many global powers placing Sri Lanka prominently in their economic programmes like how China has placed Sri Lanka in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While there are many business/investment opportunities covering all key economic sectors in the country that are open for foreign businesses/investors, Sri Lanka also presents the ideal destination for foreign businesses to set up bases to engage with other countries in the region using the preferential treatment enjoyed by Sri Lanka with them. Also, foreign businesses could look at possibilities of expanding operations through partnerships or joint ventures with local businesses.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20251114/Z_3 |