SLItBC benefits Lanka-Italy business ties
Business relations between Sri Lanka and Italy had benefited greatly
after the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council (SLItBC) was set up.
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Seated from left: Immediate Past President SLItBC, Ranjit
Jayawardena (Ranmal International), Vice President SLItBC, Tania
Polonnowita Wettimuny (Hellmann Worldwide Logistics), President
SLItBC, Daya Ratnayake (Aus Afrasia Designer Collection),
Ambassador of Italy, Fabrizio Pio Arpea, Vice President SLItBC,
Rajah Abeyasinghe (Allied Trading and Engineering), Dr.
Giandomenico Milano, of the Italian embassy. Standing from left:
Sonali Liyanamanne (Mackinnons American Express Travel), Rajeev
Aloysius (The Autodrome), Kiron Shenoy (Excel Global Holdings),
Sunil Peiris (Jetwing Travels) and Anisha Dias (Ceylon Chamber
of Commerce). |
SLItBC has been the catalyst for a tenfold increase in trade between
the two countries, said Ambassador of Italy, Fabrizio Pio Arpea at the
the 14th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Italy Business Council
recently at the Taj Samudra.
The Council is one of the bilateral business councils that functions
under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Last year was an important year for Italy specially in international
trade, recording a trade balance surplus of about $11m.
Since 2009 up to date exports have picked up drastically with
positive growth rates. The main exports, machinery and equipment have
accounted for over 27% of exports. The new economies are becoming
increasingly important for the Italian investors and in particular the
investments in Asia grew from 4.6% - 6.7% between 2008-2011.
The ambassador said that he looks forward to the support of the
Council for various activities and that the High Commission too will
support the council in all its activities. CEO and Managing Director,
Aus Afrasia Designer Collection (Pvt) Ltd, Daya Rathnayake, was elected
as the President of the Council for 2013/2014. |
