SL-China Business Council elects new team to boost bilateral ties

Monday, 29 September 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka-China Business Council elected its new membership committee at its 13th Annual General Meeting, which was held recently at the Taj Samudra Hotel. The Council, which focuses on the objectives of trade, investment, services and tourism between Sri Lanka and China functions under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Seated from left: Synergy Shipping Lanka Ltd. Aruna Perera, Abans Ltd. Vice President, SLCHBC K.Kunendran, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Wu Jianghao, Lanka Ceramic PLC, President, SLCHBC Navindra Abeysekera, Management Executive, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Harshini Fernando, David Peiris Motor Company Ltd, Vice President, SLCHBC, Yasantha Abeykoon, John Keells Holdings PLC, Immediate Past President, SLCHBC, Prabath Harshakumar. Standing from left: Stretchline Ltd., Hasantha De Silva, KIK Engineering Co. Ltd. Oswald Hakel, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd, Malika Dias Bandaranayake, The Tradesman SL Ltd., T. Mahendran, Prima Group, Colin Pawley, Standard Chartered Bank, B. C. Tan Lanka Ceramic PLC CEO Navindra Abeyasekera was elected as the President of the Council for the year 2014/2015. He mentioned that the incoming Committee would encourage more joint ventures between Sri Lanka and China, exchange information on trade and investment, conduct joint meetings with Chinese business organisations in Sri Lanka and China and will serve as a recognised representative of business sector interests in Sri Lanka. He also mentioned that the current population in China’s is reported as 1.4 billion which is equal to 19% of the world’s total population. The total value of imports to China for the year 2013 stands at $ 1,949 billion and this is an increase of 7% compared to the imports of $ 1,817 billion in 2012. From China’s total imports, close to 42% is from developed Asian countries namely South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka, Wu Jianghao in his speech mentioned about the improving trade structure and ways to promote trade integration. He said there were two advantages to utilise, one was the proposed China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement and the other was cooperation in the infrastructure field. Jianghao also mentioned increasing investment to Sri Lanka based on three platforms. The first platform was to strengthen the manufacturing industry, the second platform was to build up Sri Lanka as a hub for information technology and shipping, making use of Sri Lanka’s geographical advantage, the third platform was to promote tourism and attract more Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka. For example the number of Chinese tourists to Cambodia has been increased from 30000 to one million in 10 years, he said. Abans Ltd. Marketing Support Deputy GM K. Kunendran and David Pieris Motor Co. Ltd. Divisional Manager Yasantha Abeykoon were appointed Vice Presidents respectively. The following members were elected to the Committee of the Sri Lanka-China Business Council: Chief Executive Officer, AG Masters Ltd., Lasantha Wickremesooriya, Director (Batteries /Tyres /Lubricants) Associated Motorways Ltd., Naalaka Madugalle, Head of Procurement, Singer(Sri Lanka) PLC, Thulitha Mendis, Head of Origination and Client Coverage, Sri Lanka, Standard Chartered Bank, Colin Pawley, Director Operations, The Tradesmann SL Ltd., T. Mahendran, Chairman, Synergy Shipping Lanka Ltd. Aruna Perera, Relationship Manager, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd., Malika Dias Bandaranayake, Head of Sales, KIK Engineering Co. Ltd. Oswald Hakel, Sales and Marketing Manager, Zam Gems Ltd., A.R.M.Shafraz, Managing Director of Stretchline Ltd. and Managing Director of MAS Fabrics, Stretchline Ltd. Timothy A.B. Speldewinde, Group General Manager, Prima Group. B.C. Tan, HR Manager, China Habour Engineering Company Ltd. Zhang Bo Nan, Chief Financial Officer, Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. Victor Sun and Asst. Vice President, John Keells Holdings PLC, Prabath Harshakumar will serve as the Immediate Past President. Membership of the Council is open to individuals, partnerships, companies, corporations or other organisations engaged in trade, tourism or services with China or engaged in joint ventures with Chinese organisations or interested in entering into or promoting trade, tourism, services or joint ventures with Chinese organisations. Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka-China Business Council K. Kunendran proposed the vote of thanks at the AGM.