The Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Forum (PSLBF) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General Karachi organized a Pakistan Business Delegation to Sri Lanka from 18-22 July 2023 with a view to enhancing business relationship between the private sector companies.
This delegation is in reciprocation of the recent visit of the trade delegation arranged by the Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council (SLPBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in March 2023 to Karachi, Pakistan. The Programme for the visiting delegation in Colombo was arranged by the SLPBC.
The programme included a Pakistan Business Forum hosted by the SLPBC on 19 July, at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. Leveraging Free Trade Agreements and streamlining trade processes to facilitate trade promotion were among key strategies suggested to enhance bilateral trade and investment, at the Pakistan Business Forum.
The Forum was attended by Sri Lanka Consul General in Karachi Jagath Abeywarna, SLPBC President S Deivanayagam & Council members, PSLBF President Aslam Pakhali & Forum members, Trade and Investment Attaché of the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo Asmma Kamal and Head of Market Development of Sri Lanka Export Development Board Anoma Premathilaka along with other private sector representatives. The Forum was followed by a B2B Session among the private sector companies.
During the visit, the Delegation had a fruitful discussion with Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs. Discussions were held on enhancing trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan from exporting products to manufacturing processes. The State Minister was hopeful that the session would prompt positive and mutually beneficial collaborations.
The programme also included meetings with High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka H.E. Shahzad Chaudhry, Director General of Agriculture (Agri. Technology) P.C. Peiris and visit to the Port City which included briefings by Head of Branding and Communication of Colombo Port City Economic Commission Dhanya Gunawardana & Head of Investment Promotion at the BOI Sri Lanka Prasanjith Wijayatilake.
The delegation expressed interest in fostering partnerships for export in sectors such as footwear and leather, automobile components, rubber products, electrical and electronics & import of some service sectors and effectively established various business contacts, which will be highly important to enhance bilateral trade and investment collaborations between the two countries.