Sri Lanka - Pakistan Business Council strengthens bilateral ties at ‘My Karachi Trade Fair’

The Sri Lanka - Pakistan Business Council (SLPBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce consolidated trade ties with Pakistan at the ‘My Karachi Trade Fair’, held in Karachi, Pakistan from 2-6 March. 

Organised by the SLPBC in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Karachi, the business promotion mission participated in several trade related discussions as well as B2B meetings, facilitated by the Sri Lankan Consulate together with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Pakistan – Sri Lanka Business Forum (PSLBF) and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). 

The SLPBC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its counterpart in Pakistan, the PSLBF, witnessed by a large number of Karachi based business conglomerates, at a networking session organised by Consul General for Sri Lanka in Karachi Jagath Abeywarna.

SLPBC President S. Deivanayagam said that the Council would act as a springboard to minimise the impact of the economic challenges, including the dollar shortage, that both countries are currently facing, and requested that the authorities in Pakistan work towards resolving the issues faced by exporters from Sri Lanka to Pakistan, as most of the items exported are essential commodities.  

He also invited the KCCI, PSLBF and the FPCCI to organise business promotion missions to Sri Lanka in order to explore the many business and investment opportunities available.

The delegation comprised Eswaran Brothers Exports Managing Director Somasundaram Deivanayagam, who is also the SLPBC President, Mr. Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa, Chairman, Kalhari Group/Vice President of SLPBC, Managing Director Rohitha Thilakaratne, Merchant Lanka General Manager Upendrika Jayasundera, Chief Operating Officer Indika Rajapaksa, Rhino Roofing Products Director Jude Fernando, Creative Textile Mill Managing Director Firoz Anver, Chief Operating Officer Lahiru Jayasinghe, St. Anthony’s Industries Group Head of Project Sales Sathiyadeva Thilakshan and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Senior Assistant Secretary General Lilakshi de Mel.