Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen led Sri Lanka’s delegation to the 5th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in New Delhi on 16 January 2014. The Conclave, held under the theme “The south Asian Century-Progressing Towards regional Integration”, was organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, the SAARC Chamber of Commerce & industries and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI). Speaking at the inaugural panel discussion of the Business Conclave, Minister Bathiudeen highlighted the outstanding trade statistics that Sri Lanka has shown for the past few years as an example of sound economic policies that has brought successful investments to the country.
The inaugural session of the Conclave was attended by the Ministers of Trade and Commerce of all SAARC countries, the Secretary General of SAARC and the President of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Delivering the key note address, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India Anand Sharma stressed the need for greater cooperation among SAARC countries to increase inter-regional trade. He also highlighted the need to work towards liberalizing the visa regime in the region to enable seamless travel within the region for the business community as a measure to increase investments in the region.
Minister Bathiudeen was accompanied by a business delegation from Sri Lanka including representatives from the trade chambers. High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam who was associated with the Minister at his meetings was a panelist at the session titled ‘Emerging South Asia in the 21st Century’ which was chaired by the Foreign Secretary of India Sujata Singh.
At the concluding session of the Conclave, Minister Bathiudeen reiterated Sri Lanka’s full commitment and support for the objectives of regional economic integration within SAARC. Minister highlighted that Sri Lanka ranked 84 in the latest Doing Business Index as a result of the overall business and investor friendly environment in Sri Lanka.
The SAARC Ministers of Commerce paid a courtesy call on the His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India on the 18th January 2014 and discussed SAARC initiatives to promote greater intra SAARC business and economic cooperation.
During his visit to New Delhi, Minister Bathiudeen called on External Affairs Minister of India Salman Khurshid on 16 January. The two ministers discussed a range of issues relating to enhancing trade and investment between the two countries. They also discussed specific measures that can be taken to deepen trade and investment in region. Minister Bathiudeen explained recent initiatives taken by Sri Lanka for greater facilitation of trade among SAARC countries through further liberalization of access to the Sri Lankan market.
On the sidelines of the Business Conclave, Minister Bathiudeen met his counterparts from SAARC nations including the Minister of Economic Development of Maldives, Mohamed Saeed.
High Commission of Sri Lanka in India
New Delhi
18 January 2014
