CCC and Australia’s MDF kick-off climate change adaptation events for agri biz

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Australian Government-funded Market Development Facility (MDF) will host a series of events titled, ‘The Business Case for Climate Change Adaptation for Agribusinesses,’ to increase awareness of local agribusinesses on the risks posed by climate change to their business models.

The kick-off event of the series, ‘Experience from Industry Leaders,’ will take place today (August 24), at 9 a.m. via Zoom and will bring together a variety of prominent Sri Lankan business leaders who have identified climate change as a risk in their own business models and taken steps towards adaptation and mitigation. The event will be opened by Amanda Jewell, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.  A panel discussion will follow, featuring Dilhan Fernando, CEO Dilmah Tea Company PLC (keynote speaker), joined by Shea Wickramasingha, Group Managing Director, CBL Group; Charitha Subasinghe, President – Retail, John Keells Holdings PLC; Dr. Rohan Fernando, Managing Director, Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC; and Dr. Giriraj Amarnath, Principal Researcher and RGL – Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience, International Water Management Institute. 

The webinar will be moderated by Nisthar Cassim, Editor of aily Financial Times. An interactive Question and Answer session will follow the discussion.   The series aims to encourage agribusinesses to invest in adaptation strategies, with a long-term view of achieving bottom-line growth. 

As a key outcome of the event, participating agribusinesses will have the opportunity to explore the possibility of accessing MDF funding to invest in socially inclusive and sustainable climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.