Ceylon Chamber Trade and Investment mission to Seoul, Korea

“Korea has been the largest investor in Sri Lanka two decades ago; we welcome you to come back to visit Sri Lanka to seize the opportunities available,” said the President of the Sri Lanka-Korea Economic Co- operation Committee, Mahen Kariyawasan, addressing the business community during the recent trade and investment promotion mission to Seoul, South Korea.

Kariyawasan was the leader of the mission.

The Sri Lanka-Korea Economic Co-operation Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce organised a trade and investment mission to Seoul, South Korea recently with the objective of strengthening trade and political ties, sourcing suitable business partners for trade, investments, joint ventures, technology transfer and services and also to assist in expanding existing business contacts of the participants.

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) which is the key trade chamber in Korea, hosted a Trade and Investment Seminar and one to one business meetings for the delegates.

Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) which is the key Korean organisation that represents the interest of Korean importers having more than 8,500 member companies also organised one to one business meetings. Small and Medium Business Corporation (SBC) of Korea hosted an Investment Seminar at their regional headquarter in Incheon.

During the visit the key officials of the delegation met Korea International Trade Association (KITA), which is one of Korea’s largest business associations having membership of more than 65,000 companies and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to discuss on avenues of further enhancing the economic relationship between two countries. Sri Lanka Expo 2012 which is to be held during 28 to 30 March 2012 was also promoted during the mission.

A MOU was signed between Sri Lanka Korea Economic Co-operation Committee and Incheon-Bucheon-Gimpo SMEs Hybrid Business Association, in the presence of the Deputy Minister, in promoting commercial relations between the two countries.

The Council wishes to place on record the guidance received from Tissa Wijeratne, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Korea, Charitha Yattogoda, Counselor (Commercial) for formulating the comprehensive programme and attending all the meetings with the delegates and Choi Jong – Moon, Ambassador for Korea in Sri Lanka and Han, Sang Su of the Korean Embassy in Sri Lanka for the guidance extended to make the mission a success.       

The 16-member delegation comprised of Deputy Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka Neomal Perera, Managing Director Andrew Group of Companies Mahen Kariyawasan, Chairman, Hanjin Shipping Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. Shiran Dissanayake, Managing Director, Alpha Tours (Pvt) Ltd Priyantha Mendis, Managing Director, Ceylon Auto Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. Deepthi Jayamaha, Group Chairman, Hovael Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. Joel Selvanayagam, Chairman, Isuru Engineering (Pte.) Ltd. Mahesh Pasqual, Factory Manager, Microcells (Pvt.) Ltd. Kanishka Samaraweera, Managing Director Kapila De Silva and Director Marketing of NSK Exports (Pvt.) Ltd. Nihal Maduraperuma, Managing Director, S Light Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. Seong Byun, Director Southern Tea Producers (Pvt.) Ltd. Chamara Udugama, Managing Director, Transmarine (Pvt.) Ltd. Wasantha Talagala, Deputy Director, Sri Lanka Export Development Board Anoma Premathilake, Director, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Shivan De Silva. The mission was co-ordinated by Manager of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Kamani Bartholomeusz.