Sri Lanka woos Vietnamese investments, business

A Sri Lanka Business Conclave themed ‘Sri Lanka: Hub of the Indian Ocean - The Land of Business Opportunities’ was held on 30 November at the Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The conclave was organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi with the support of the Sri Lankan community in Ho Chi Minh City, and was attended by over 100 Vietnamese businessmen, members of the media as well as expats and Sri Lankan professionals and entrepreneurs.

The event was aimed at providing an open, informative and interactive platform, bringing together both the Sri Lankan and Vietnamese business communities to discuss opportunities, exchange ideas and address challenges for collaboration in a wide range of sectors including agriculture and fisheries, gem and jewellery, IT and related fields, apparel and garments, tourism, trade, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics as well as to explore investment opportunities.

Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) Deputy Director General Bui Thi Thanh An in Ho Chi Minh City represented Vietnam at the event. Ambassador of Panama to Vietnam, Servio S. Samudio, who is also accredited to Sri Lanka, was a special invitee. Among the other special invitees was the Chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs (HAWEE) Cao Thi Ngoc Dung - CEO of PNJ Jewellery, one of Vietnam’s largest jewellery businesses. Mayumi Lewke Bandara - Business Development Manager of Softlines, Leather and Footwear of Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Services (Vietnam) Ltd. moderated the event.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Vietnam Hasanthi Dissanayake briefed the participants on the agenda and introduced Sri Lanka briefly, highlighting how over the centuries Sri Lanka’s geographical location has played, and continues to play, a crucial role in shaping its political and socioeconomic destiny. She further highlighted the contribution of Government-funded education and that of healthcare to the further development of the country. The Ambassador further touched upon Sri Lanka’s recent developments, focusing on economics as well as strongly developing bilateral relations in a wide gamut of sectors. 

Bui Thi Thanh An, Deputy Director General of VIETRADE congratulated the organisers of the event and emphasised the importance of events of this nature to promote bilateral economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. She referred to the visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Vietnam in April 2017, during which time the two Prime Ministers agreed to increase bilateral trade volume to $ 1 billion in the coming years.

This was followed by three panel discussions entitled ‘Sri Lanka – Investment Opportunities: High Potential as a Logistic Hub and Finance Hub in the Indian Ocean’, ‘Sri Lanka Tourism: Nature and Heritage at its Best’ and ‘Sri Lanka: A Land of Business Opportunities’.

Following the third panel discussion, a lucky draw was held for the participants. Aitken Spence Travels and Deluxe Vacation offered two five-day tour packages and five gem-studded items of jewellery sponsored by Sunray Gems and Beauty Gems. The event ended with a networking reception where Sri Lankan delicacies were served.