EDB holds B2B meetings with visiting delegation of Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention.
The Morning: The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), organised a business-to-business (B2B) meeting programme recently at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo 3.
A Canadian delegation of 14 high-profile businessmen was present for the B2B meeting programme while more than 60 Sri Lankan companies met them for one-on-one meetings.
This important occasion was graced by EDB Chairman and CEO Suresh de Mel and officials of the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention and EDB.
De Mel, welcoming the visiting delegation from the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention commented that there is great enthusiasm among the Sri Lankan business community to meet the delegates from Canada to introduce products and services to the Canadian market. De Mel further emphasised the importance of building trade ties with Canada and also highlighted the opportunities that are available to Canadian businessmen to develop trade with Sri Lanka.
Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention President Kula Sellathurai during his speech stated that the delegates from Canada are ready to work with Sri Lankan counterparts and their intention is to help Sri Lanka become a strong economy in the world.
Canada is an important trading partner for Sri Lanka as it is Sri Lanka’s eighth export destination. In 2021, Sri Lanka’s exports to Canada were recorded as $ 312 million with a 47% growth compared to 2020. Sri Lanka’s key export products to Canada are apparel, rubber-finished products, coconut kernel products, tea, processed food and beverages, spices, and concentrates. EDB has identified organic and herbal products, frozen products, vegan products, value-added palm products, coir products, and processed foods as potential products to promote in Canada.
OSL take:
The expanding business/investment opportunities in the country even amidst challenging economic conditions have attracted the attention of many foreign businesses/investors. Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean and the many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by the country have also helped expand the opportunities in the country. Also, Sri Lanka’s economy has shown great resilience through the years and is once again on the path to recovery after facing the global pandemic and its ensuing challenges that have caused an economic crisis. Key economic sectors in the country and the private sector have shown a growth and profits despite challenging economic conditions. The government of Sri Lanka has presented a host of attractive business opportunities and incentive schemes to woo foreign businesses/investors. Given all these developments, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the growing opportunities in Sri Lanka.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/22112022/AT_3 |