The High Commission of India organized an India-Sri Lanka Business Forum at Taj Samudra on 30 May, 2012 to discuss the possibilities of enhancing trade and economic relations between India and Sri Lanka and informing the participants about the “India Show” planned for August 2012. The Forum was attended by H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India, Mr. P. D. Fernando, Director General, Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Mr. P. Kumaran, Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Kumar Mallimaratchi, President, Federation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Mr. Tilak De Zoysa, Vice President, Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Harin Malwatte, Secretary General, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Mr. E.M. Wijetillake, Secretary General, National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, CEOs of Indian companies doing business in Sri Lanka, representatives of Sri Lankan Companies, officials from the High Commission and Chambers.

2. The Commercial & Economic Counsellor of the High Commission, Mr. Manish briefed the participants on the trends of economic and trade relations between the two countries. He informed the gathering that, with the support of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) would be organizing the ‘India Show’ in Colombo from 3 - 5 August, 2012. The venue for the ‘India Show’ would be the Bandarnaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo. The “India Show” will coincide with the visit of Hon. Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles, Government of India, to Sri Lanka.

3. The “India Show” is being organized with the following objectives:

(i) to promote Indian technology and services with the intention of increasing the trade between India and Sri Lanka;

(ii) to provide a platform for Indian companies to showcase their strengths and capabilities;

(iii) to attract Indian investment in Sri Lanka; and

(iv) to provide opportunities to Sri Lankan business to develop linkages with prospective Indian partners.

4. The main features of “India Show” are: three days of exhibition at BMICH from 3-5 August, 2012; business conference; one-to-one meetings; visit of business delegation; visit of high-level Ministerial delegation; cultural evening and gala dinner. A food festival and Indian wine sampling will also be organized to coincide with the “India Show”. More than 100 Indian companies are expected to participate in the event.

5. Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Kantha made a reference to the positive growth trend in India-Sri Lanka bilateral trade in 2011. The two-way trade grew by 65%, to reach about USD 5 billion. Referring to the slow down in the economic growth of the two countries, due to global economic conditions, the High Commissioner emphasized the need for both countries to work closely to keep up the momentum of growth in bilateral trade. He said that the forthcoming visit of Hon. Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles, to Sri Lanka and the “India Show” would further provide impetus to the trade & commercial relations between the two countries.

6. Mr. P. D. Fernando, Director General, Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka welcomed the initiative of the Government of India to organize the “India Show” and assured the support of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of Sri Lanka. He requested Sri Lankan companies to tap the vast potential for trade with India, by identifying the complementarities in the two economies and taking advantage of the huge engine for economic growth so close to Sri Lanka. Other speakers from the Chambers emphasized the importance of India-Sri Lanka trade & economic linkages and extended their support for the “India Show”.

Colombo