1. Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkatta organized “India Investrade 2012: An exposition and Buyer Seller Meet on Realty Construction & Construction Materials” from 26-28 April, 2012 at BMICH, Colombo. The event was organized with the support of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and in association with Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing & Common Amenities, Government of Sri Lanka, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.

2. Fifty Indian companies participated in the exposition showcasing their profile in building materials, construction equipment & technologies, electrical & sanitary fittings, flooring & roofing material landscaping, consultancy, property development, financial service for construction. The Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing & Common Amenities, Government of Sri Lanka, Board of Investment, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka also put up their stalls at the exhibition.

3. Speaking at the valedictory session of the Exhibition held on 28 April, 2012, Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Commerce said that India Investrade 2012 in Colombo was a huge success. Both the Indian and Sri Lankan businessmen found the exhibition very useful. Elaborating on the outcome, Dr. Singh said that preliminary estimates indicate that Indian companies have received trade queries over 70 million USD in a span of two days. He was very upbeat on the prospects of future cooperation and indicated the willingness of the Indian Chamber of Commerce to participate in forthcoming Construction Expo 2012 to be held in Colombo from June-July 2012.

4. The three day event comprised of Exhibition, Conference and Buyer-Seller Meet. The purpose of the event was to promote and facilitate trade and business engagement in construction and construction material sector, provide a platform to introduce the Indian entrepreneurs with their Sri Lankan counterparts and promote the process of business engagement, exchange of ideas and facilitate G2G, G2B and B2B interaction on various issues pertaining to the construction industry of both the countries.

5. On 27-28 April, technical sessions were organized for the benefit of delegates from both sides with the participation of representatives from National Institute of Construction Management and Research, India; Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India; Central Public Works Department of India; Central Engineering Construction Bureau, Sri Lanka; Chamber of Construction Industry, Sri Lanka, Institute of Construction Training and Development, Sri Lanka; Board of Investment of Sri Lanka; Indian Chamber of Commerce; National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka; National Construction Association of Sri Lanka; State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka; IL & FS, India and delegates from both sides.

6. It may be recalled that the inaugural programme of the exhibition on 26 April, 2012 at BMICH was graced by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India, Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Construction Engineering Services, Housing & Common Amenities and Hon. Nandimithra Ekanayake, Deputy Minister of Higher Education. The event was also attended by Mr. Kumar Mallimaratchi, President, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, Mr. Sunil Wijesinha, Deputy President, The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Mr. Rajiv Mundra, Senior Vice President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce.

7. The members of the Indian delegation called on Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Construction Engineering Services, Housing & Common Amenities and had discussion with various departments and institutions under his Ministry. Hon. Deputy Minister had one to one meeting with several representatives Indian companies on 27 April, 2012 at BMICH. A special presentation was organized by Ministry of Construction Engineering Services, Housing & Common Amenities on 28 April, 2012 for the Indian delegates. The Indian delegates also met the officials of Urban Development Authority and Road Development Authority. Several B2B were held during the exposition over the three days.

Colombo