Twenty construction companies from Sri Lanka and Nepal connected via Zoom for an interactive B2B session, jointly organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Nepal and Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB), recently.  

The participating companies represented sectors ranging from building construction, road development, bridges and irrigation to renewable energy projects, including hydropower and solar. Accordingly, Master Hellie’s Engineering Consultants, Darington Construction (Pvt.) Ltd, Sanmal International (Pvt.) Ltd, Venora Lanka Power Panels (Pvt.) Ltd, APS Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Sanken Overseas (Pvt.) Ltd, Sierra Construction Ltd, Landmark Properties (Pvt.) Ltd, St. Theresa Industries, Eco Power Group and Laugfs Power participated from Sri Lanka. 

Joining from Nepal were Amar Construction (Pvt.) Ltd, Gorkha Construction, Jambudip Construction, Tundi Construction, Rabina Construction (Pvt.) Ltd, Baibhab Power Nepal (Pvt.) Ltd, BBD Construction & Suppliers (Pvt.) Ltd, Himalayan Engineering Associates (Pvt.) Ltd and New Technical Infra (Pvt.) Ltd.

Giving the opening remarks, EDB Director Export Services Indumini Kodikara stated that Sri Lanka has already entered into the global market in the fields of mini hydropower, hydraulic engineering services, roads and highways, green technology and soil and geotechnology. Such a diverse range of expertise provides numerous opportunities for the two industries to partner in joint collaborations. 

The B2B session was conducted for over two hours allowing the companies to engage with up to seven counterparts in separate break-out meeting rooms. The participating companies expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to meet and build new partnerships and explore business opportunities. Some Sri Lankan companies expressed keen interest to undertake physical visits to meet with business partners and government stakeholders in Nepal for more productive engagements in the near future. 

Thanking all participants in her closing remarks, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Himalee Arunatilaka underlined that construction has been identified as a key sector for development in both Sri Lanka and Nepal. She highlighted that the objective of the B2B session was not only to enable collaborations and partnerships in construction projects but also to encourage trade in construction materials as well as sharing of expertise. She encouraged the participants to continue their engagement in the future as well assuring the embassy’s fullest support and facilitation together with the EDB. 

The B2B session is a follow-up to the successful webinar conducted on May 4, 2021, under the title ‘Collaboration in the Construction Industry Between Sri Lanka and Nepal’, jointly coordinated by the embassy and EDB with industry associations from Sri Lanka and Nepal.