'French Embassy will support investments in Sri Lanka' - Christine Robichon

The Sri Lanka-France Business Council (SLFBC) which functions under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held its 8th Annual General Meeting at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently.

The Council was inaugurated on February 4, 2004 with a primary objective of promoting trade, investment, tourism and services between Sri Lanka and France and to promote mutual understanding and strengthen the relationship between Sri Lanka and France.

Chief guest, French Ambassador, Ms. Christine Robichon, said that last year French exports to Sri Lanka grew at a significant rate. She also said that the Embassy of France will continue to support and encourage French investments in Sri Lanka. Dilipan Tyagarajah, from Alstom, was re-elected as the President of SLFBC for the 2012-2013.

Tyagarajah said Sri Lankan exports to France increased by 12.5 percent and similarly imports from France also increased by 48.2 percent during 2011.

He said that he looks forward to work closely with the Embassy of France and the French Trade Commission to further develop the trade relationship between Sri Lanka and France. The two Vice-Presidents elected were Asanka Ratnayake (Director, Hayleys PLC) and Murad Rajudin (Chief Executive Officer, Noyon Lanka (Pvt) Ltd).

Tilak de Soyza, (Chairman/Managing Director, Associated Motorways (Pvt) Ltd.), Senaka Amerasinghe (Managing Director, Carmart Ltd.), Shano Sabar (Director, CMA-CGM Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.), Navindra Abeysekera (Director, Delmege Forsyth and Co. Ltd.) and Anurag Kak (Managing Director, Lafarge Mahaweli Cement (Pvt) Ltd.), were elected to the Committee for 2012-2013. The Immediate Past President is Mrs. Nirmali Samaratunga (Chairperson and Joint Managing Director, Mackwoods Ltd).

Jean-Louis Poli, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the French Trade Commission, Ms. Nilupul de Silva (Director Promotions, Board of Investment), Mrs. Jeewani Siriwardena (Director - EU, Sri Lanka Export Development Board), Mahesh Amalean (Chairman, MAS Holdings Ltd.) would also serve on the committee by invitation.