Bangladesh Business Co-operation Council appoints Renuka Jayamanne as new president

• Excerpts of the speech given at the Annual General Meeting by the newly appointed President of the Bangladesh Business Co-operation Council of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka Renuka Jayamanne
  
   

Mr. Asela De Livera, President of the National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka and Immediate Past President  of the Bangladesh Business Cooperation Council, Members of the head table, Council Members of the Chamber, Invitees, fellow colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all this evening for the Annual General Meeting of the Bangladesh Business Cooperation Council of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.  

I am privileged to be elected as the second president of this prestigious business council of the National Chamber and thank you for the confidence placed in me and my new committee.

I assure that I will carry out the good work done by the Past President Mr. Asela Livera and the office bearers and take the Bangladesh Business Council to greater heights.

As you know, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has a history of 45 years of establishing diplomatic ties and gone strength to strength over the years. Economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is exceptional and there is a fast-growing relationship increase in bilateral trade figures. 

As you all are aware, most of the Sri Lankan investment is in the apparel sector and the largest Bangladesh investment in Sri Lanka is Pharmaceuticals. Sri Lanka can look to collaborate with various Bangladeshi institutes and key companies. Sri Lankan airlines flying regular direct flights between Colombo and Dhaka offers better connectivity. 

In addition to air connectivity, both countries are exploring means of enhancing maritime connectivity to boost their economies. The ports of Chittagong in Bangladesh and the ports of Colombo and Hambantota in Sri Lanka are located nearly 1,515 nautical miles from each other. 

Robust connectivity and linkages between these ports would facilitate shipping, tourism and investments between the two countries. Sri Lanka is expected to be a Shipping and Logistics Hub; it would be beneficial for both economies to explore opportunities based on this concept. Education and sports are other areas of collaboration between the two nations. Bangladesh is host to around 500 Sri Lankan students studying in its medical and dental colleges, and there are about 200 Bangladesh Buddhist monks studying in the monastic colleges (Pirivenas) of Sri Lanka. 

Diversification and use of new technology further raise the quality and the range of agricultural products for export. Sri Lanka has a relatively conservative agricultural sector which can be upgraded by sharing experiences, both between agricultural institutes and at grassroots levels. 

Sri Lanka also strengthens sound financial management; a strong banking sector; vibrant commerce;  technological expertise; education; skilled human capital;  tourism and a strong shipping sector, due both to good management and geographical location. 

The trade between the two countries has grown in terms of numbers, the partnership between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh can be taken to a whole new level by being a model to be strengthened by other South Asian countries for enhanced economic growth leading to economic development in the region. 

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already started discussions on a Free Trade Agreement. This would give tremendous opportunities for both sides.

I believe that the new agreements and MOUs should in time help make Bangladesh and Sri Lanka stronger trading partners to mutual benefit.

I look forward to your support and cooperation for all future activities of the business council. If you have any business related issues with Bangladesh, please keep us informed and we will do our best to assist you with the relevant authorities. I will end my speech with the quote “Together We Can Achieve”.