Commonwealth Secretary General meets Malik
Commonwealth Secretarygeneral Patricia Scotland QC paid a courtesy call on Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade along with an accompanying delegation comprising Senyo Agbohlah, Deputy Head of the Secretary General’s office, Prof. Barnie Choudhury, Director Media and Public Relations, Jonathan Cheng-political Officer Asia/europe Regions, Snober Abbasi, Assistant Communications Officer at the ministry.
The Secretary General provided an overview of the trade and development initiatives being undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat and discussed avenues for Sri Lanka to engage. She discussed the opportunities for growing intra-commonwealth trade and investment and encouraging more trade between member countries. She also invited Sri Lanka to showcase innovative Sri Lankan entrepreneurs on the new ‘Innovation Hub’ section of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s website. She remarked: “We are looking for innovation champions. It would be great for Sri Lanka to be an innovation champion featured on this page, with a focus on a particular area.”
The Commonwealth Secretariat continues to provide useful technical assistance to Sri Lanka. Analytical inputs were provided during the formulation of the recently launched National Export Strategy (NES), to identify new products and new markets for Sri Lankan exports. Technical assistance has also been given on how improving Export Development Finance in the country, to support growth of enterprises in NES sectors in particular, and exports in general.
Meeting was attended by Secretary to the Ministry Chandani Wijewardene, Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry Advisors Eng. Mangala Yapa and Anushka Wijesinha, Export Development Board Chairperson Indira Malwatte, Board of Investment Director General Duminda Aryasinghe and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sri Lanka High Commission in Pretoria with the assistance of trade promotional budget of Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka participated Global Trade Show of Networking and Matchmaking South Africa 2018 (GTS 2018) held from July 27 to 29, 2018, at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa.
GTS is an international business and trade show, incorporating four co-located shows: Tools and Build Show (TBS) - focusing on tools, hardware and building supplies; household and appliances show (HAS) - focusing on housewares, home appliances and furniture; smart electronics and security show (SES) focusing on smart electronics and security products, as well as the food and beverage show (FBS) - focusing on food and beverage products.
The samples, brochures, and banners received from Sri Lankan exporters interested in South African market were displayed visualising product information ranging from Ceylon tea, rubber products, textiles, food products to Information Technology at the pavilion. The staff of High Commission had B2B meetings with potential buyers and distributors at the stall and the details will be provided to respective exporters for the further engagements.
Speaking at the grand opening ceremony of the second edition of GTS 2018, Acting High Commissioner, Thiloma Abayajeewa extended her best wishes and felicitations to the organisers and acknowledged the support received for Sri Lanka’s participation at the exhibition. Sri Lanka pavilion was declared opened by Maria Eugenia Correa Olarte -Ambassador of Colombia to South Africa and Zephndlovu, the President of South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry by lighting traditional oil lamp on July 27, 2018.
Conducting a comprehensive presentation on ‘Trade, Investment and Tourism Opportunities- Why Sri Lanka?’ at the workshop session of GTS, Kapila J. Kumara, First Secretary, Commercial invited participants to do business with emerging Sri Lanka and grow in Asia by taking advantage of improved investment climate and trading environment for foreign investors. He also invited the participants to visit recently launched Sri Lanka’s Trade Information Portals (TIP) for more information with regard to import and export including information on permits, laws and taxes.
The three-day event was successfully concluded on July 29, 2018.