SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and APTA CCI plan to form partnership

The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) plan to form a joint partnership by end-october, aiming to develop business and cultural advancements between the two chambers.

Speaking to Mirror Business on the sidelines of an event organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) to host a highpowered business delegation of the China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector (CICCPS), APTA CCI President Designated Dr. Rohitha Silva said, “This is the first time the SAARC Chamber presidency and APTA Chamber presidency come together to one country, Sri Lanka. Hence, we are proposing a joint partnership between the two chambers to expand the partnership. We intend to sign the MOU by the end of next month.”

FCCISL President Ruwan Edirisinghe was recently appointed as President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while FCCISL Director Dr. Silva was nominated as President Designate for the APTA CCI by its member country chambers met in China.

Dr. Silva said that the APTA CCI would come into operation from October 8, at the eighth floor building in Beijing, China.

He thanked the CICCPS for taking the lead role in forming the APTA CCI and for investing in the land and building of the APTA headquarters.

“I would like to thank the President and Secretary of the CICCCPS for pledging 2.8 billion RNB and land to put up the head office in Beijing,” he said.

Congratulating the newly-formed APTA CCI, Commerce Department Director General Sonali Wijeratne said, “The newly formed APTA CCI in which the FCCISL China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector plays a vital role, can facilitate and encourage the private sector to explore the untapped opportunities.”

Dr. Silva pointed out that intra trade among the APTA countries only accounts for 11 percent of overall trade, which has the immense potential to increase.

The seven members in the APTA include Bangladesh, China, India, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Sri Lanka and Mongolia, while the SAARC membership includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.