FCCISL promotes SL at China (Sichuan) South and Southeast Asia Business Leaders Online Conference

FCCISL President Shirley Jayawardane delivering the keynote speech representing the Business community in Sri Lanka

 FCCISL Senior Vice President Keerthi Gunawardane delivering the Sri Lanka country presentation

CCPIT Sichuan Council President Huang Li addressing the conference

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), being a prominent entity in regional cooperation, actively took part in the China (Sichuan) South & Southeast Asia Business Leaders Online Conference held on 25 September. 

The event was organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Sichuan Council in collaboration with the National South Asian Standardisation (Chengdu) Research Centre. The theme of the conference was, ‘Push Forward Standards of Connectivity and Deepen Cooperation on Investment and Trade in Service’.

In addition to the main conference, there were important parallel events and side events. One of the parallel events was the China (Sichuan) South and Southeast Asia Cooperation Promotion on Agricultural Food and High-Tech Industry, whilst the other parallel event was the Investment and Trade Opportunities Promotion Conference of South and Southeast Asian Countries. The side event happened to be the Online Products Exhibition of South and Southeast Asian Countries. 

It was momentous that the main conference, parallel and side events were physically held in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, and all the events were broadcast live on an online conference platform. The high-level speakers and invitees from China physically attend the events, whereas the foreign speakers and invitees participated in the events virtually. In fact, there were over 35,000 online visitors from countries of South Asia, Southeast Asia and other regions in the world virtually attending the online conferences and products exhibition.

The FCCISL was prominent in participating at the main conference and parallel conferences. Moreover, FCCISL facilitated the Sri Lankan exhibitors to take part in the online products exhibition. Government officials, leaders and officials of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), leaders of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, leaders and members of all National Chambers of Commerce from South Asia and Southeast Asian countries, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics from various countries, physically and virtually attended the conferences. 

Representing the Sri Lankan business community, FCCISL President Shirley Jayawardane, delivered the Congratulatory Note and Keynote Speech at the main conference, ‘China (Sichuan) South and Southeast Asia Business Leaders Online Conference,’ whereas FCCISL Senior Vice President Keerthi Gunawardane, made the country presentation of Sri Lanka at the parallel conference, ‘Investment and Trade Opportunities Promotion Conference of South and Southeast Asian Countries’. 

During her keynote speech, Jayawardane stated: “The new world order in the post COVID-19 has given birth to numerous challenges and new opportunities in socioeconomic spheres. To overcome the difficulties and to reap the benefits of emerging opportunities in the post COVID-19 context, an effective model of international and regional cooperation is more essential than ever before.

“Throughout many years, this annual business conference and the large-scale products exhibition held in Sichuan, China, covering South Asian and Southeast Asian countries have been significant in enhancing regional economic cooperation and building business linkages among business communities in the regions.”         

Gunawardane in his country presentation elaborated on the Sri Lankan investment environment which is conducive for foreign direct investments and joint ventures. He stated: “Sri Lanka’s comparatively better education and healthcare systems, educated young labour force, rapidly developing infrastructure facilities and mineral resource endowments create a conducive environment for investments in various areas.” 

He described that, “being an island situated at the crossroads of major shipping routes connecting Asia and Europe, Sri Lanka is a strategically important geographical location in the international trade”.

In their speeches both the President and the Senior Vice President of FCCISL invited the potential investors in China and other countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia to visit Sri Lanka and explore new investment opportunities, creating sustainable win-win situations. They explained that the Digital Economy, ICT, Green Economy, Healthcare, Food Security, Renewable Energy, Disaster Management, etc., are new areas of investment, in addition to the Tourism, Infrastructure and Manufacturing sectors in Sri Lanka. 

They further added that the FCCISL, being the apex chamber in Sri Lanka and the focal point of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) and APTA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (APTA CCI) in Sri Lanka, can facilitate and coordinate with all foreign investors who would like to visit Sri Lanka and explore the investment and joint venture opportunities, thereby contributing to the recovery process and the socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka and other countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia in the best possible manner.