Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia Azmi Thassim called on Secretary-General of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) in Riyadh Dr. Saud A. Almashari last week, to discuss the possibilities of expanding the trade relations between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.
Discussions between the two parties focused on strategies related to expanding business to business (B2B) contacts between the Sri Lankan and Saudi businesses, which include trade delegation visits and facilitation of visas for the businesses persons. Ambassador reminded that the last trade delegation organized by the CSCCI visited Sri Lanka in December 2017 and emphasized that a similar visit needs to be organized in the near future.
Dr. Saud Almashari concurred with this idea and said that a visit from Saudi SME sector would be more productive at this juncture. He also assured that necessary steps will be taken to organize the visit as soon as possible. The two parties also discussed the importance of establishing a ‘Saudi Sri Lanka Business Council’ and agreed to take initial steps in the formation of this Council.
The CSCCI is the official federation for the 28 Saudi Chambers. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and CSCCI signed an MOU in December 2017 on expanding bilateral business cooperation. Sri Lanka's main exports to KSA last year were tea, apparel, bananas, desiccated coconut, and fish. The total trade between the two countries was around US$ 328 million in 2018.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Minister Counsellor (Commercial) Sanjeewa Pattiwila and Desk Officer/ Bilateral A.L.M Jabeer of the Embassy.
