BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, MARCH 15
The first-ever high level visit of a 17-member Omani business delegation from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) to Sri Lanka concluded successfully. The visit was organised by the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman from March 5-9.
Eng Ridha bin Juma al Saleh, OCCI Chairman led the high level business delegation. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman Ameer Ajwad received the delegation at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Sri Lanka and accompanied the delegation during the visit. Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Sri Lanka Shaikh Juma bin Hamdan al Shehhi also took part during the meetings.
The visit explored opportunities available in trade and investment between Sri Lanka and the Sultanate of Oman and to establish business links between the private sectors of the two countries.
The delegation paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, briefed him on the progress made during their visit and expressed their keen interest in closer economic engagement with Sri Lanka.
Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Gabral and Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake were also present during the meeting.
The delegation also held productive meetings with the Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva together with State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Priyankara Jayaratne and State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya during the visit. Areas of mutual interest including promotion of trade, investment, tourism, employment opportunities were discussed.
One of the highlights of the visit was the Business Forum followed by B2B meetings held between the visiting Omani delegation and their Sri Lankan counterparts, organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) at the Chamber Auditorium in Colombo.
A large number of Sri Lankan companies participated during the B2B meetings. Ambassador Ameer Ajwad, President of the NCCSL Nandika Bhuddipala, Chairman of the OCCI Eng Ridha al Saleh addressed the Business Forum. Presentations by the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) as well as the Colombo Port City were made during the Forum highlighting the opportunities available for investments in Sri Lanka.
The Omani business delegation held a fruitful meeting with the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation (STC) and discussed ways and means for trading between Sri Lanka’s state sector and Oman’s private sector.
During the meeting with the Director-General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Omani business delegation was briefed on different investment opportunities in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka and it was proposed to organise joint programmes for tourism promotion between the two countries.
The delegation also visited Colombo Port City project, Sri Lanka’s new special economic zone reclaimed from the sea.
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