More details of the proposed 565-acre,$15 bln-worth Colombo Port City on Jan. 16

The Shippers' Academy Colombo (SAC) in partnership of Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) has organised an interactive forum on January 16 with the Chairman Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to educate the investor community and the industry on the development projects and discuss the plan of the SLPA beyond 2014. It will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation at 4.30 pm.

Among the key issues to be presented, would be the Colombo Port City development project, which covers 565 acres of reclaimed land in front of the new south harbour where investments are expected to be over US$15 billion in the next decade. "The project is set to transform the landscape of the city of Colombo and is considered to be South Asia's most modern metropolis and the logistics and commercial hub," the SAC said in a statement.

It said the SLPA Chairman will make a presentation and discuss the plans where industry could gather information as well as understand opportunities available to the private sector with the development projects. The Port City will have major real estate opportunities, as well as provide international investors with attractive benefits, to locate in the island nation as it emerges as a mega regional port city hub.

The forum will also discuss various plans in the port sector itself, led by the developments of port of Colombo, Hambantota and other regional ports of the country. The commercial hub regulations which has declared free ports in Sri Lanka will provide new opportunities for logistics, shipping, export/manufacturing industry and other investors to operate in a new environment where they can set up regional distribution centres, headquarter operations under a very friendly investment regime along with a liberal trading environment.

The forum is targeted towards investors, investors, real estate companies, banks, shipping and logistics companies, exporters, persons involved in international trade, consultants, lawyers, mercantile establishments and any other interested parties.

16 with the Chairman Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to educate the investor community and the industry on the development projects and discuss the plan of the SLPA beyond 2014