RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO – The Sri Lanka – Malaysia Business Council (SLMBC) conducted a CEO Business Forum on Monday October 9 at the Shangri-La, Colombo.
The Chief Guest of the forum was the visiting Minster of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Dato Seri (Dr.) Zambry Abdul Kadir and the Keynote address was delivered by Minster of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry PC.
In his welcome address,President of the SLMBC H.M.K.M.Hameez said Sri Lanka and Malaysia having an excellent relationship and diplomatic ties for the last 66 years.
“SLMBC is one of the prominent and active business councils of Ceylon Chamber of commerce actively engaged in trade and bilateral relationship. Therefore, we humbly request the government of Malaysia to look at all possible avenues to provide industrial training for those students seeking Higher education qualifications in Malaysia. In turn that would help Sri Lankan private and public sectors immensely.”
“Further, SLMBC also looking at the possibilities of encouraging young entrepreneurs and youth to look for Start-ups. As we firmly believe it will be an integral part of a vibrant economy.
We as business council have drawn plans and appropriate mentoring programmes for start-ups to meet challenges in business sphere.”
“As a first step, we are also encouraging some start-ups to join our proposed business delegation to Kuala Lumpur to attend Indo-Asean Start-up Summit in KL on the 30th and 31st of this month.
Further the Business Council is looking at an opportunity to join hands with an investor or a consortium to set-up a start-up seed fund or accelerator fund.”
The Sri Lanka – Malaysia Business Council was inaugurated on February 23, 1994 under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.
The main objective of this Council is to promote joint ventures, Investment, trade, tourism and services between Sri Lanka and Malaysia and in particular to promote exports from Sri Lanka to Malaysia, further to exchange information on trade and investment with the appropriate bodies in Malaysia.
The chief guest at the event Dato Seri (Dr.) Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia said Sri Lanka will sign a Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia in February. He said regard this agreement discussion was going on last five years but it was delayed because of Covid pandemic.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said the government of Sri Lanka is very much interest with the Free Trade Agreement and also government interested with China and Thailand Free Trade Agreement. He said Malaysian investors should consider local investment opportunities in tourism, education and Pharmaceutical manufacturing in Sri Lanka.
This CEO Forum Sri Lankan investors, businessmen, corporate executives and entrepreneurs were present. The forum included panel discussion joined by Supun Weerasinghe, Group CEO of Dialog Axiata PLC, Dr. Nayana Dehigama, Executive Chairman, Epic Technology Group and HYRAX Oil Managing Director Dato Hazimah Zainuddin addressed a panel discussion. Daily FT Editor in Chief Nisthar Cassim moderated the discussions of the forum.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Badli Hisham Adam, members of the Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council, officials of the Embassy of Malaysia, editors of Media Institution and officials of business organizations were attended the event.
The SLMBC President H.M.K.M. Hameez presented tokens of appreciation to the two ministers.
