Mission to strengthen Sri Lanka, Korea trade ties

“Korea has been the largest investor in Sri Lanka for two decades, we welcome you to come back to visit Sri Lanka to seize the opportunities available.” said the President of the Sri Lanka- Korea Economic Co- operation Committee, Mahen Kariyawasan. He was addressing the business community during the recent trade and investment promotion mission to Seoul, South Korea. Kariyawasan was the leader of the mission.

The Sri Lanka-Korea Economic Co-operation Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce organised a trade and investment mission to Seoul, South Korea recently with the objective of strengthening trade and political ties, sourcing suitable business partners for trade, investments, joint ventures, technology transfer and services and also to assist in expanding existing business contacts of the participants.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) which is the key trade chamber in Korea, hosted a Trade and Investment seminar and one on one business meetings for the delegates. The Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) which is the key Korean organisation that represents the interest of Korean importers having more than 8,500 member companies also organised one on one business meetings. Small and Medium Business Corporation (SBC) of Korea hosted an Investment Seminar at their regional headquarters in Incheon.

During the visit key officials of the delegation met the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), one of Korea’s largest business associations having a membership of more than 65,000 companies and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to discuss avenues of further enhancing the economic relationship between two countries.

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 which is to be held from March 28-30, 2012 was also promoted during the mission.

An MoU was signed between Sri Lanka Korea Economic Co-operation Committee and Incheon-Bucheon-Gimpo SMEs Hybrid Business Association, in the presence of the Deputy Minister, in promoting commercial relations between the two countries.