FCCISL to host SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in Colombo

The third SAARC Business Leaders Conclave under the theme `Regional Cooperation: a catalyst for Socio-Economic Growth in South Asia' will be held on November 22 and 23 at Hilton Colombo.

The event will reinforce the process of strengthening and deepening the Public-Private Partnerships in the region while focusing on several key factors in regional business cooperation.

The event is organized by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Federations of National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the SAARC member countries and hosted by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL).

The World Bank is the knowledge partner of the event while Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) is the supporting partner.

Regional cooperation is one of the most important phenomena in the world today which is becoming inevitable as the process of globalization is still at large. The world has become increasingly interdependent, and regional trading blocks are fast taking centre stage in global trade.

However, trade barriers and the structural asymmetries in the South Asian economies have limited the scope for trade and thus South Asia has one of the lowest levels of intra-regional trade in the world.

Regional cooperation is crucial for the developing economies in South Asia as it leads to technological advancement, human resource development, tourism promotion, increased business linkages at regional level interaction of people and eventually generates billions of dollars of income, employment and trade.

SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to keep on contributing for the promotion of economic cooperation through SBLC, thus providing a unique platform to debate and discuss the benefits that are much acquired in regional cooperation. Moreover, it invites private sectors/CEO of the leading enterprises to sit together, think and formulate a long-term strategy which could promote effective cooperation at all areas of businesses within the region.

The main target group for this conclave includes leading representatives of renowned enterprises from South Asia. SAARC observer countries i.e USA ,EU, Japan, Korea, China etc South Asian business community in Europe, Asia Pacific and North American investors, Parliamentarians and Government functionaries that are involved in policy making.

The prime importance will be given to public-private partnership to the enhancement of regional economic cooperation in SAARC can only be achieved once all segments of regional community are actively involved.

Parliamentarians and Government functionaries will also be involved in project knowledge and developing understanding about concerns of SAARC countries, it will eventually bring about positive changes in economic policy and reforms in the region.

Conclave will focus on subjects such as Socio-Economic challenges faced by Leadership in South Asia, Global financial Crisis and its Impact on South Asia, Food crisis through enhanced Investment in Agriculture, Interactive Dialogue between Business leaders and triumphant Entrepreneurs, Trade Facilitation, A Fosterer of Regional Integration, Trade in Services: Prospects and Challenges for Regional Integration, Emerging Priority Concerns: Climate Change and Depleting Water Resources, Culture and Tourism: A Fosterer of Socio-Cultural Interactions, Creating Synergies in the area of enhanced regional cooperation.