In a bid to mainly promote local SME products to the state of Victoria in Australia the Sri Lanka and Australia Chamber of Commerce organised a visit of a 11 member high-profile Australian Trade Delegation to Sri Lanka.
The team currently in Sri Lanka until September 10 will be closely looking at organic food and local fabrics that could be exported to the Australian market. The Australian Trade Delegation also includes representatives, including notable figures from the Aboriginal Economic Development Group (AEDG), the Victoria State Government, and other prominent business entities.
The delegation leader Sara Stewart, Director of the Aboriginal Economic Development Group said that they will also look at investment and trade opportunities in the ICT, Reviewable energy, Boat building and Pharmaceutical sectors. “This is also the first time that we are leading a business delegation to an Asian country. Last year we traveled to New Zealand and the USA.”
Scheduled to run from September 4 to 10 of 2023, this landmark event is being orchestrated by the Sri Lanka and Australia Chamber of Commerce, in close partnership with the Victoria State Government, alongside other notable stakeholders.
“We also traveled and met Export Development Board, National Chamber of Commerce, SLASSCOM, Port City, Hatch, and Orion City officials with the objective of playing the ‘match maker’ role,” said President of the Sri Lanka and Australia Chamber of Commerce Kalum De Silva. The trade between eh two countries was around USD 1.5 billion in the pre COVID era and now it has come down to around USD 1.3 billion. “Our joint aim is also to increase this.”
Chairman EDB, Kingsley Bernard said that Australia is the 11th largest export destination to Sri Lanka and events like this could further boost exports.
“Through this event, we envision not only economic growth but also the cultivation of stronger bonds of friendship and understanding between our nations.”
Australian Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Lalitha Kapoor said during the C-19 pandemic supply chains were disrupted and this visit will help to strengthen them again. (SS)
