Chamber of Tourism signs deal with UK’s Gateway Asia

Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Tourism and Industry signed an MOU on 30 March with Gateway Asia from the UK.

Gateway Asia is one of the partners who worked with the Sri Lankan High Commission in London to mount the UK Trade Delegation to the Sri Lanka Expo in Colombo.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the MOU between the two Parties at The Hilton

Colombo, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Dr. Chris Nonis said, “I am delighted that Gateway Asia has been an active supporter of our Expo and contributed to making it a success.” Dr. Nonis added, “The various project areas and proposals that the Gateway Asia team from the UK and India has developed, covering education, infrastructure, transport, water, tourism and hospitality are just what Sri Lanka needs to create local employment and sustainable growth in the country.”

Chairman of Gateway Asia and Gateway Business Consultants Ash Verma said, “As a business, our focus is to build trade links and connect business. We have met Ministers, Government Officials, and local business people with whom we will be working over the coming year to turn the concepts and ideas into real projects, especially in the education, infrastructure and tourism sectors,” adding, “I have been deeply touched by the warm welcome and hospitality we have received throughout our short, but intensive tour across many of the leading towns and cities in Sri Lanka. I am already looking forward to coming back in the near future.”

Fellow Director and Partner in Gateway Asia, and Chairman of the Saloria Group of Companies Lalji Vekaria said, “I am really pleased that our proposals to develop and introduce the London Eye in Sri Lanka, something that we are doing in India, as part of a major proposal to develop the tourism and leisure industry, has been so well received here at all levels.” “Our partners in India are really excited about the prospects of developing major infrastructure projects in water, roads, rail and hotels. We have already commissioned some preliminary feasibility work in these areas and started to identify potential partners and investors,” added Vekaria.

Chamber of Tourism and Industry Chairman A.M. Jaufer said, “My colleagues and I have been discussing various project ideas with overseasinvestors and companies for many years, but the internal problems meant that wecould not make real progress.”

Jaufer added, “Expo 2012 has helped to bring manybusinesses from overseas and I am very happy that Gateway Asia contacted meagain to say that they would be coming to Sri Lanka. The MOU will give ourmembers a fresh impetus to engage with investors from other countries andcollaborate on new projects and initiatives that will help to develop our wonderful country.”