Ceylon Chamber facilitates Kiwi biz delegation

10 November 2015 03:04 am Views - 881

From left: Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Vice-Chairman Rajendra Theagarajah, former New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Don McKinnon, New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka Grahame Morton, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Honorary Consul for New Zealand in Sri Lanka  Senaka Silva


The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) facilitated business meetings for the visiting members of a delegation from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). NZTE is New Zealand’s international business development agency that assists New Zealand businesses grow into international markets.

The delegation, consisting of 33 delegates, was accompanied by former New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Don McKinnon and New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka Grahame Morton. The delegation visited Sri Lanka recently at the invitation of Honorary Consul for New Zealand in Sri Lanka Senaka Silva and was led by New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Sri Lanka Kevin McKenna. 
Representing the industry sectors such as industrial refrigeration solutions, industrial and architectural coatings, industrial battery, power management solutions, premium food and beverage (F&B) products, radio communication for defence and civilian sectors, healthcare, surgical and respiratory products, logistics and storage, stacking systems, personalised genomic medicines, cinema management solutions, Pet, BOPP, aluminium, paper, steel wires, etc., the delegates were able to make preliminary contacts with counterparts in Sri Lanka, through the CCC. 

The Sri Lanka-Australia-New Zealand Business Council (SLANZ BC) of the CCC, which is the main arm promoting business interactions between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, too joined NZTE and the CCC at a discussion forum, at which Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake briefed the delegates on the new thrust sectors and the progressive initiatives of the Sri Lanka government’s strategic plans to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) to Sri Lanka and areas of assistance to investors from New Zealand.