Sri Lanka – Greater Mekong Business Council holds its 10th Annual General Meeting
The Sri Lanka – Greater Mekong Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 10th Annual General Meeting on 07th July 2021 virtually. Her Excellency, Ho ThiThanhTruc, Ambassador of Vietnam in Sri Lankagraced the event as the Chief Guest.
Ranil Seneviratne, President of the Council stated that the period under review was very challenging with the onset of the COVIDpandemic, despite all challenges, the Council was able to organize two webinars for the benefit of its members as well as to other organizations interested in Trade and Investment in the Greater Mekong region.
During the year, the Executive Committee made courtesy calls to Ambassadors of Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar in Sri Lanka and during these visits the Council discussed many issuesrelated toprocedures on Visas andTrade barriers due to Import restrictions. The Committee enlightened the Ambassadors on Investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and requested technical assistance for identifiedproduct sectors. In addition,views were exchanged onthe benefit of present Free Trade agreements.
S.M.D. Suriyakumara, Chief Executive Officerof Maliban Biscuits Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd was elected as the President of the Council while MahenWeerasekera,Chairman, Capitol Developers Ltd, Kamal Boyagama, Director,MAC Holdings (Pvt) Ltd and RandeewaMalalasooriya, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd elected as Vice Presidents. The Committee appointed will be represented by Astron Ltd, Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd, Lanka Hospitals PLC and Rhino Roofing Ltd. Ranil Seneviratne, Director, Ranfer International (Pvt) Ltd will serve as the immediate Past President for the period 2021 – 2022.
While congratulating the newly appointed Committee, Her Excellency Ho ThiThanhTruc, Ambassador of Vietnam in Sri Lanka informed that Vietnam is now entering a new stage of development with a goal and vision to become a middle-income country with modern industries by 2030, and to become a developed, high-income country by 2045.
It was also stated that Sri Lanka, has one of the busiest maritime routes that has attracted the attention of the world’s bigpowers due to its strategic location in the region and that Sri Lanka’s Government supports private sector empowerment and a public-private partnership model for mutual development. Besides, Colombo’s new port city will be a financial center of South Asia and a major attraction for investors in the near future.
Visits: 104
