Sri Lanka Ukraine ties get big boost

The Sri Lanka-Ukraine Business Council (SLUBC) and Donetsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 13 January at DCCI in Donetsk, Ukraine, starting a new stage of business relations between Sri Lanka and Ukraine.

The Sri Lanka-Ukraine Business Council was established in 2010 after the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Ukraine and this was initiated by MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and then President of Federation Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) Kosala Wickramanayake. The Sri Lanka-Ukraine Business Council is a member of the FCCISL.

Sri Lanka and Ukrai-nian business communities can immensely benefit through this MOU since SLUBS and DCCI agree to cooperate all programs of trade and investment promotions between the two countries, assist member to enter into bilateral joint investment schemes and to obtain consultancy services, etc.

Donestk is the second largest city in Ukraine and the main industrial city of the country which has large coal, steel and ceramic industries among many others.

DCCI had been established in 1964, and its members include almost 1000 enterprises and institution involved in production, trading, agricultural, scientific, educational, insurance, financial and banking activities.

“DCCI has shown a keen interest to visit Sri Lanka on a fact fin-ding mission in the second half of 2012,” said President of SLUBC Samantha Kumarasinghe.