Lanka: NCC signs four MoU with China

Colombo: The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka signed four Memorandums of Understanding with four (4) Sub Councils of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) recently.

The four provinces where the National Chamber signed agreements are: Jiangsu, Fujian, Hunan and Anhui. MOUs were signed with Anhui Chamber of International Commerce, China Chamber of International Commerce, Hunan Chamber of Commerce, China Council for the Promotions of International Trade, Jiangsu sub council and China Council for Promotion of Trade, Fujian Sub Council.

Lal de Alwis, Senior Deputy President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka signed the agreement on behalf of the National Chamber and the representatives of respective CCPIT sub councils and the Vice Chairman of the CCPIT Fujian sub council signed on behalf of the other parties.

Through the co-operation agreement, both parties agreed to exchange market information on the economic development of respective province in China and Sri Lanka with a view to enhancing trade between the two parties.

Both parties in their endeavour to enhance bilateral trade will assist official missions of each party, exchange trade delegations, provide information with regard to markets and investment opportunities, conduct and participate in trade Exhibitions, Seminars and Conferences and identify and encourage joint venture projects.

The National Chamber will make use of these opportunities to enhance the trade between Sri Lanka and above four provinces in China effectively. Already the trade balance is in favor of China. With the improvement of trade, especially the Sri Lankan exports to China arising partly due to the easy market access for Sri Lanka products in China under Asia Pacific Trade Agreement we could reduce the deficit to some extent.

The Chamber in addition to the development of trade between Sri Lanka and the said provinces in China, will also make use of these agreements to exchange technical expertise especially to train Sri Lanka professionals in fields like ceramic industry, green tea production and post harvest technology to minimize losses said Mr. Lal de Alwis, Senior Deputy President of the National Chamber.

Mr Lal de Alwis thanked HE Karunathilake Amunugama, Ambassador to Sri Lanka in the People’s Republic of China and Mr. Majintha Jayasinghe, Consul in Shanghai for initiating and facilitating to sign the MOUs with the above four CCPIT sub councils.

He said the Sri Lanka Embassy officials have shown a special interest during his stay in China to promote business between Sri Lanka and China.
The Chamber through its affiliated Sri Lanka China Business Co-operation Council has in the past got many Sri Lankan professionals trained in China.

With the new programme introduced after signing of the MOUs, the Chamber will closely monitor the development of trade between Sri Lanka and China in the future. The National Chamber is pleased to assist any business person to develop their business activities between Sri Lanka and the above four provinces.

Those wanting to develop business between Sri Lanka and the above provinces in China are invited to call over at the National Chamber for further information or assistance.