BBDO Lanka promotes investment opportunities

Furthering its commitment to Sri Lanka and help promote the country  as an investment destination, BBDO Lanka, to hosted the high-powered CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) delegation to a power lunch on 19 November at the London Grill, Cinnamon Grand.

 Other invitees included members of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka and a select number of CEOs of Sri Lankan corporates.

The CII works to create and sustain an environment conductive to growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government through advisory and consultative processes. Part of the CII agenda for the years 2012-13 under the theme ‘Reviving Economic Growth: Reforms and Governance’ is according top priority to building inclusivity and taking its efforts and initiatives in international engagement to the next level.

The 13 member CII delegation which visited Sri Lanka on 18-20 November in an effort to promote business and to explore opportunities between Indian and Sri Lanka, included Adi Godrej (industrialist, philanthropist and CII President), Rahul Bajaj (Chairman, Baja Group) and Sunil Duggal (CEO, Dabur).

Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director, BBDO Lanka, Santosh Menon stated: “The reasons that BBDO chose to invest in Sri Lanka continue to be the reasons that make Sri Lanka a great business destination.”

“The armed conflict has ended and an atmosphere of hope, optimism and freedom prevails in Sri Lanka. It has a very literate population and its employment and life expectancy rates are the best in South Asia and is even comparable to China,” Menon said, referring to the many attributes that make Sri Lanka a highly attractive business destination.

The boom in tourism with Sri Lanka recording the highest growth in tourist arrivals among the Indian Ocean countries is but yet another indicator of the promise of the Sri Lankan economy, he added. He informed the CII delegation of the significant opportunities that exist in Sri Lanka for brands and branding, as well as its potential as a test market for products before they are launched in India.

The CII delegation thanked BBDO for hosting the informal gathering and for promoting business ties between the two countries.

“We are impressed by the growth of the Sri Lankan economy and the huge potential it holds for a range of businesses. Sri Lanka provides a host of opportunities as a business destination and we assure our further high-level engagement with Sri Lankan businesses and political leaders in the months ahead,” they said.