Verité Research, EASL to host seminar on doing business in China
Thursday, 13 November 2014 00:00
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Verité Research, a leading research and strategy firm in Sri Lanka, and the Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce have come together to organise a special seminar titled ‘Doing Business with China: FTA and Beyond’.
The seminar, which will be held on 26 November 2014 at On Golden Pond in the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., will explore opportunities and challenges for Sri Lankan businesses as they look to navigate the forthcoming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and business with China.
The event is timely, given the increasingly important role China is playing in the Sri Lankan economy. China’s significance as a lender, investor, trading partner and a source of tourists is gaining momentum and the proposed FTA will further strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
Verité Research will share their analysis on what shapes Sino-Lanka economic ties and potential gains and losses for businesses.
Trade expert and Head of Economic Research at Verité Research, Subhashini Abeysinghe, will deliver the keynote presentation. In addition to the FTA, Abeysinghe is expected to talk about overall bilateral economic ties and draw useful comparisons to China’s engagements with other emerging economies in the world. Abeysinghe is also expected to draw comparisons between Sri Lanka’s engagements with India, the other leading economy in the region, and unravel the similarities and differences of engaging with India and China.
Since the signing of the rubber-rice pact between the two countries in 1952, Sri Lanka has had a lasting bilateral relationship with China. However, much of the past decade in particular has seen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and China strengthen steadily, and presently the relationship is at its highest point yet. The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Sri Lanka in September reignited public interest in the Sino-Lanka relationship and the possibility of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
China, with an economy of US$ 9.2 trillion, is the second largest economy in the world. It is also the largest exporter and the second largest importer in the world. Forging closer economic ties with an economy of this magnitude provides many opportunities and poses many challenges for the Sri Lankan business community. Understanding the dynamics of this evolving relationship is critical for businesses to exploit the opportunities and face the challenges and the seminar will be welcome by senior decision-makers of businesses looking to engage with China.
In addition to Abeysinghe’s presentation, the seminar will feature other eminent Sri Lankan economists. Among them is Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan De Mel, who will chair a panel discussion that includes Hayleys Ltd. Senior Economist Deshal De Mel and Institute of Policy Studies Research Economist Anushka Wijesinha. Apparel Exporters’ Association Chairman Yohan Lawrence and Tea Exporters’ Association former Secretary General Niraj de Mel will provide industry perspectives.
For further details about the seminar contact Manori at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 115588871 or 0777223651.
