The Sri Lanka- Malaysia Business Council (SLMBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce successfully concluded a business mission to Malaysia from 14th – 17th October 2014.
The mission was organized to coincide with the IGEM 2014 exhibition on Green Technologyfollowed by One-to-One Business Meetings which was organized by various trade chambers namely Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KLSICCI), National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia ( NCCIM),Courtesy call on the Acting Minister of Trade and Industries, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) and the Malaysia Sri Lanka Business Chamber. All these are Malaysia’s Apex Business Chambers driving Malaysia’s external economy and promoting the overseas growth of Malaysia-based enterprises and international trade,in association with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia.
The fifteen member delegation led by the SLMBC President Nilrukshi de Silva, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Business Development of Macksons Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, resulted in a remarkably productive visit to Malaysia. The Delegation comprisedMr. Iqram Cuttilan, Director/Chief Operating Officer, Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd.,T Suresh Kumara, Group Managing Director ,Commodity Island International (Pvt) Ltd.,Chandranandana Diyunuge, Group Chairman, Electro Metal Pressing (Pvt) Ltd, Keith Perera,CEO,F M J Holdings, MuktharMarikkar, Managing Director, Frostaire Industries Pvt Ltd.,Arunasalam Suresan, Director – Chief Operations Officer, Global Sports Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., Dushy Jayaweera, Vice President, Hemas Transportation (Pvt) Ltd, Dr.M Rohitha Silva, Managing Director, idac (Private) Limited,Dr. U K M Ismail, CEO/Attorney-at-law, Lloyds Auto Mart (Pvt) Ltd.,Ranga Goonawardena, Chief Executive Officer, Macksons Properties (Pvt) Ltd, I. Liyanage, Manager – Business Development, Macks Marketing (Pvt) Ltd.,M H K Mohamed Hameez, Director, Spillburg Holdings (Private) Limited, MohideenShaameel, Director, Spillburg Holdings (Private) Limited. The visit was coordinated by Anisha Dias Mack, Manager of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
The objective of the Trade & Investment Promotion mission was to educate Malaysian companies on the potential opportunities in doing business with Sri Lanka and to promote individual companies.With the help of the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia the delegates met over 100 well established Malaysiancompanies.
In his opening address, Madhu Sudan Nair, Presidentof Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industrymentioned that Sri Lanka’s political stability is a positive factor in considering investment in the country. He also stated that Malaysian companies should look at participating in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure development projects.
In his address H.E. Ibrahim Ansar, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Malaysiaspoke of the significant post war growth in Sri Lanka’s economy. He statedthat the tourism industry was now rapidly growing and creating a positive influence on the country’s economy. The High Commissioner emphasized that organizing missions of this nature will greatly contribute to augment bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Malaysia and thanked the Sri Lanka - Malaysia Business Council for their initiative in organizing the forum.
The delegation was also able to be a part of IGEM 2014 which was Themed “Creating Green Wealth”, the 5th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia.It aimed to help push the rapid adoption of green technology which is the emerging driver to deliver a double impact of sustainable economic growth as well as to address the environmental and energy security issues.
Representing National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, YBhgDato Syed Hussein Al Habsheegave the participants an overview of the Malaysian economy and trade. YBhgDato Syed Hussein highlighted sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, education and healthcare as having great potential with respect to business opportunities in Sri Lanka and one to one business meetings were organized with companies from Malaysia which made the event more successful.
The delegates also paid a courtesy call to the acting Minister of Trade and Industries in Malaysia Dato Lee Chee Leong. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industries, MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and MIDA (The Malaysian Investment Development Authority) etc.
The delegation also met with a members of The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM)which is one of Malaysia's premier economic organization.Today, as the largest private sector economic organization in Malaysia representing over 2,500 manufacturing and industrial service companies of varying sizes, FMM is the officially recognized and acknowledged voice of the industry. The delegates were able to make a few successful contact with the members of FMM.
Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong, ACCCIM (Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia)Executive Advisor cum Chairman of International Trade & Industry Committee made a presentation about The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, It is a national level organisation of the Chinese chambers of commerce in the country. It has 17 Constituent Members located separately in the 13 states of the nation. In fact ACCCIM is the earliest national level chamber of commerce to have a complete regional representation in the country. Tan Sri Dato’ also mentioned that a 15 member delegation will be visiting Sri Lanka in the month of November 2014.
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Malaysia also organized a Sri Lanka food Promotion to coincide with the visit of the delegation from Sri Lanka. It was held at the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel with Sri Lanka’s most renowned Chef Dr. PubilisDe Silva.
Addressing the gathering Mrs. Nilrukshi de Silva, President of the SLMBC stated that the participation of Sri Lankan delegates in a series of successful seminars and business sessions organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia has resulted in productive business contacts and partnerships between Malaysian and Sri Lankancompanies. Considering Sri Lanka’s rapidly developing status as a regional hub for businessMrs. De Silva invited potential Malaysian investors to join in a Business mission to Sri Lankain order to explore the many opportunities available for doing business in the country.
One of the main highlights of this mission was the signing of the Memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka – Malaysia Business Council of Sri Lanka and the Malaysia – Sri Lanka Business Chamber of Malaysia in the presence of His Excellency Ibrahim Ansar, High Commission of Sri Lanka in Malaysia on 17th October 2014. At the press conference held Malaysia-Sri Lanka Business Chamber Chairman Datuk Azzat Kamaludin said Malaysia was now focusing on the new Sri Lanka by facilitating and fostering relations with the Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business Council.Meanwhile, Nilrukshi welcomed any form of trade and investment from Malaysian enterprises as the country was still making strides to develop after the civil war in Sri Lanka.
"Among the export products we can tap in Malaysia are for spices and tea.
"We are looking out for opportunities in Malaysia's manufacturing sector to propel the industries in Sri Lanka," she said, adding that Malaysia manufacturers would also have access to India and Pakistan as Sri Lanka has signed free trade agreements with them.
H. E. Ibrahim Ansar, Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Malaysiahosted the members of the delegation for a networking session with Malaysian companies interested in exploring business opportunities and the members of the Malaysia Sri Lanka Business Chamber and other reputed institutes during the mission.
