Conference on Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation in South Asia & Beyond
August 3, 2024, Park Premier, Excel World, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The SCCI in collaboration with Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) organized a conference on “Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation in South Asia & Beyond” held on August 3, 2024, at Park Premier, Excel World, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event provided an effective platform for South Asian businesses to promote exports and imports, explore new markets and investment opportunities, and engage in meaningful discussions to strengthen cross-border trade.
Over 300 business leaders and representatives of business companies in different sectors from South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and China took part in the Conference and the South Asian Trade Fair. Government officials, South Asian diplomats, professionals and academics were also present at the event.
Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane, President, FCCISL in his opening remarks, pointed out that South Asia is an integral driver of the global economy having approximately 25 percent of the global population in the South Asian region.
Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SCCI in his address, stated that the South Asian business community together with public stakeholders has been playing a pivotal role in innovations and sustainable development in the SAARC region. He stressed that South Asia needs more investments in sectors such as clean energy and information technology.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, Honourable M.U.M. Ali Sabry, graced the occasion with his presence as the Chief Guest at the Conference. In his keynote, while congratulating the organizers for the successful event, he articulated that the events like the South Asia Trade Fair & Business Forum would be instrumental not only for promoting trade, investments, and tourism, but also for strengthening people-to-people connectivity, mutual understanding and friendship thereby enhancing harmony in diversity among the people of South Asia whose growth potential is enormous.
The SAARC Secretary General, His Excellency Md. Golam Sarwar, in his speech as the Guest of Honour at the Conference, expressed that the economic potential of the SAARC region is momentous, hence the private-public partnerships would be ideal in exploring new investment opportunities in the SAARC region. He added that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a viable modality in facilitating the South Asian private sector for strengthening business linkages to peruse new opportunities in trade, investments, and innovations in South Asia.
Apart from the South Asian participants, a high-level Chinese delegation together with twelve Chinese companies from Sichuan Province took part in the event reflecting the economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries. The Chinese delegation was led by Ms. Zhu Chunxiu, Vice Governor, Sichuan Province of China, Mr. Zhu Xinhua, Chairman, Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, and Ms. Huang Li, President of CCPIT Sichuan Council (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade).
In her remarks, Ms. Zhu Chunxiu, Vice Governor, Sichuan Province of China, mentioned that the economic, investment and trade cooperation between China (Sichuan) and South Asian countries had significantly improved during the recent past. She added that Sichuan would like to share best-practices and technical know-how to develop the South Asian economy especially in renewable energy, machinery and manufacturing sectors.
Under the main theme of the Conference “Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation in South Asia & Beyond”, two panel discussions were held focusing on the sub-themes, “South Asia – China (Sichuan) Trade and Investment Cooperation” and “Shaping South Asia: Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation”.
Former Minister of Environment and Energy in Maldives Dr. Shakeela Maryam, SAARC Director (Economic, Trade & Finance), Mr. Bhavesh R. Trivedi, SCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin, SCCI Past President, Mr. Ruwan Edirisinghe, FCCISL President, Mr. Keerthi Gunwardane, SCCI Vice President (Afghanistan), Mr. Khairuddin Mayel, SCCI Vice President (Bangladesh), Mr. Shafquat Haider, SCCI Vice President (Nepal), Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, SCCI Vice President (Pakistan), Mian Anjum Nisar, SCCI Vice President (Sri Lanka) Dr. Rohitha Silva, Sri Lanka Export Development Board Deputy Director, Ms. Saumya Kannangara, and SAARC Young Entrepreneurs Forum Chairman, Mr. Amzad Hussain took part in the Panel Discussions. Office Bearers of National Chambers of Commerce in South Asian countries, FCCISL Board Directors, SCCI Secretary General, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt and SCCI Internal Affairs Director, Bader Munir took part in the Conference. FCCISL Secretary General & SCCI Associate Director Mr. Tilan M. Wijesooriya was the Master of Ceremony at the Conference.
During the Conference, two MOUs were signed reflecting the economic cooperation among South Asian countries and beyond. The MOU between FCCISL and CCPIT Sichuan Council were signed by FCCISL President, Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane and CCPIT Sichuan Council President, Ms. Huang Li. The MOU between ICT Council of SCCI and WCIC (Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce Sri Lanka) were signed by ICT Council Chair & SCCI Vice President (Bangladesh), Mr. Shafquat Haider and WCIC Chairperson, Ms. Yasmin Anoji De Silva focusing on the digital trade portal and Business-to-Business platform “SAARC Bazaar”.
The Conference concluded with a Networking Lunch for all participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Over 300 business leaders and representatives of business companies in different sectors from South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and China took part in the Conference and the South Asian Trade Fair. Government officials, South Asian diplomats, professionals and academics were also present at the event.
Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane, President, FCCISL in his opening remarks, pointed out that South Asia is an integral driver of the global economy having approximately 25 percent of the global population in the South Asian region.
Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SCCI in his address, stated that the South Asian business community together with public stakeholders has been playing a pivotal role in innovations and sustainable development in the SAARC region. He stressed that South Asia needs more investments in sectors such as clean energy and information technology.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, Honourable M.U.M. Ali Sabry, graced the occasion with his presence as the Chief Guest at the Conference. In his keynote, while congratulating the organizers for the successful event, he articulated that the events like the South Asia Trade Fair & Business Forum would be instrumental not only for promoting trade, investments, and tourism, but also for strengthening people-to-people connectivity, mutual understanding and friendship thereby enhancing harmony in diversity among the people of South Asia whose growth potential is enormous.
The SAARC Secretary General, His Excellency Md. Golam Sarwar, in his speech as the Guest of Honour at the Conference, expressed that the economic potential of the SAARC region is momentous, hence the private-public partnerships would be ideal in exploring new investment opportunities in the SAARC region. He added that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a viable modality in facilitating the South Asian private sector for strengthening business linkages to peruse new opportunities in trade, investments, and innovations in South Asia.
Apart from the South Asian participants, a high-level Chinese delegation together with twelve Chinese companies from Sichuan Province took part in the event reflecting the economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries. The Chinese delegation was led by Ms. Zhu Chunxiu, Vice Governor, Sichuan Province of China, Mr. Zhu Xinhua, Chairman, Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, and Ms. Huang Li, President of CCPIT Sichuan Council (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade).
In her remarks, Ms. Zhu Chunxiu, Vice Governor, Sichuan Province of China, mentioned that the economic, investment and trade cooperation between China (Sichuan) and South Asian countries had significantly improved during the recent past. She added that Sichuan would like to share best-practices and technical know-how to develop the South Asian economy especially in renewable energy, machinery and manufacturing sectors.
Under the main theme of the Conference “Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation in South Asia & Beyond”, two panel discussions were held focusing on the sub-themes, “South Asia – China (Sichuan) Trade and Investment Cooperation” and “Shaping South Asia: Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation”.
Former Minister of Environment and Energy in Maldives Dr. Shakeela Maryam, SAARC Director (Economic, Trade & Finance), Mr. Bhavesh R. Trivedi, SCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin, SCCI Past President, Mr. Ruwan Edirisinghe, FCCISL President, Mr. Keerthi Gunwardane, SCCI Vice President (Afghanistan), Mr. Khairuddin Mayel, SCCI Vice President (Bangladesh), Mr. Shafquat Haider, SCCI Vice President (Nepal), Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, SCCI Vice President (Pakistan), Mian Anjum Nisar, SCCI Vice President (Sri Lanka) Dr. Rohitha Silva, Sri Lanka Export Development Board Deputy Director, Ms. Saumya Kannangara, and SAARC Young Entrepreneurs Forum Chairman, Mr. Amzad Hussain took part in the Panel Discussions. Office Bearers of National Chambers of Commerce in South Asian countries, FCCISL Board Directors, SCCI Secretary General, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt and SCCI Internal Affairs Director, Bader Munir took part in the Conference. FCCISL Secretary General & SCCI Associate Director Mr. Tilan M. Wijesooriya was the Master of Ceremony at the Conference.
During the Conference, two MOUs were signed reflecting the economic cooperation among South Asian countries and beyond. The MOU between FCCISL and CCPIT Sichuan Council were signed by FCCISL President, Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane and CCPIT Sichuan Council President, Ms. Huang Li. The MOU between ICT Council of SCCI and WCIC (Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce Sri Lanka) were signed by ICT Council Chair & SCCI Vice President (Bangladesh), Mr. Shafquat Haider and WCIC Chairperson, Ms. Yasmin Anoji De Silva focusing on the digital trade portal and Business-to-Business platform “SAARC Bazaar”.
The Conference concluded with a Networking Lunch for all participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
