Sri Lanka-China Business Council looks to boost economic and trade cooperation
EconomyNext: The Sri Lanka–China Business Council (SLCHBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently marked a quarter-century of economic and trade cooperation between Sri Lanka and China.The event brought together government officials, diplomats, office-bearers of the council, and business leaders from both countries, including Wang Gang, Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka and Managing Director of China Harbour Engineering Company.“China greatly appreciates the Council’s outstanding contributions to the economic and trade exchanges between the two countries over the past 25 years, and looks forward to it continuing its bridging role and promoting the bilateral free trade agreement, attracting more Chinese investment, and facilitating the export of more high-quality Sri Lankan products to China,” Zhu Yanwei, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, said.China remained Sri Lanka’s largest import partner in 2025, with iron and steel, knitted fabrics and vehicles among the top imports, Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe said, while Sri Lankan exports to China included apparel, tea, activated carbon, vegetable fibre, coconut husk chips, etc.He encouraged strengthened partnerships to continue enhancing trade between the two countries.Council President Haroun Cader outlined future priorities: giving small and medium-sized Sri Lankan businesses better access to Chinese markets and investors, bringing new technology and skills into local partnerships, and remaining a trusted platform for engagement as digital trade, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing reshape global commerce.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s long-standing economic partnership with China is creating a strong platform for Chinese businesses/investors to deepen their presence in the country, as Colombo seeks to position itself as an emerging business and investment destination in South Asia. With its strategic location along major Indian Ocean trade routes, Sri Lanka offers Chinese companies business/investment opportunities across ports and logistics, manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure, technology and export-oriented industries. The country’s ongoing efforts to modernise its transport, energy and industrial infrastructure could provide further openings for Chinese expertise, capital and technology. The potential is particularly significant in port-linked industries and logistics, where Sri Lanka can serve as a gateway to South Asian markets. Business/investment opportunities also exist in developing industrial zones, supply chains, warehousing and value-added manufacturing aimed at both the domestic market and regional exports. At the same time, stronger bilateral trade could create business/investment opportunities for Sri Lankan products to gain greater access to the Chinese market, while Chinese companies can use Sri Lanka as a base for regional operations. As the two countries look to build on 25 years of business cooperation, investment rather than traditional trade alone could increasingly define the next phase of Sri Lanka-China economic relations.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260903Z_3 |