Business ties between Sri Lanka and Italy benefited greatly through the SLItBC
Saturday, 13 July 2013 00:24
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The 14th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka - Italy Business Council was held on 28 June, 2013 at the Taj Samudra, Colombo. The Council is one bilateral business councils that function under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Chief Guest, Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Pio Arpea in his speech stated that business relationships between Sri Lanka and Italy have benefited greatly through the Sri Lanka Italy Business Council since its establishment and is an excellent success story. SLItBC has been the catalyst for a tenfold increase in trade between the two countries.
It was also mentioned that against all odds, 2012 has been an important year for Italy as a country especially in international trade and recording a trade balance surplus. Since 2009 to date, exports have picked up drastically with positive growth rates. The main sectors of exports which are machinery and equipment have accounted for over 27% of total new exports. The new economies are becoming increasingly important for the Italian investors and in particular the investments towards Asia as a whole grew from 4.6% to 6.7% in the period 2008 to 2011. Ambassador Arpea also stated that he looks forward for future support of the council for various activities and also stated that the High Commission looks forward in supporting the council in all its activities.
Ausafrasia Designer Collection (Pvt) Ltd. CEO/Managing Director Daya Rathnayake was elected to continue as the President of the Council for the year 2013/2014. He stated that the incoming committee would focus its attention on achieving its objectives such as encouraging joint ventures between Sri Lanka and Italy, conducting joint meetings with Italian business organisations in Sri Lanka and Italy and promised that the council will work closely with the Embassy of Italy in Sri Lanka and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome Italy.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Pvt) Ltd. Managing Director Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny and Allied Trading and Engineering (Pvt) Ltd. CEO Rajah Abeyasinghe JP, were appointed as Vice Presidents respectively.
The following committee members were elected to the Sri Lanka – Italy Business Council: The Autodrome PLC Joint Managing Director Rajeev Aloysius, Lanka Tiles PLC Managing Director Mahendra Jayasekera, Excel Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. Jt. Managing Director Kiron Shenoy, Jetwing Travels (Pvt) Ltd Director Sunil Pieris, Mackinnons American Express Travel Chief Operating Officer Sonali Liyanamana and Ranmal International (Pvt) Ltd. Managing Director Ranjit Jayawardena.
