Biz delegation for Seychelles

Barely a month after the Commonwealth Business Forum, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has initiated a mission to Seychelles consisting of established private sector business entities from Sri Lanka.

The delegation will leave for the Seychelles in January, 2014. The 34-member business delegation will represent agro products, especially fruits and vegetables, hotel supplies, boats, nutritional supplies, processed food, dairy products, horticulture products, industrial gloves, cold rooms, power cables, outdoor furniture, paints, garments, tea, rice and noodles. It will also include the promotion of tourism, travel, manpower consultancy, recruitment services and IT services.

The High Commissioner of Seychelles, based in India, Waven William has taken a keen interest in this initiative and met business leaders who will join the mission at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

One of the major challenges for the export of Sri Lankan fruits and vegetables to support the Seychelles tourism industry was the quarantine clearance for fruits and vegetables in the Seychelles.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is working closely with the Head of Plant Quarantine, Sri Lanka and the National Plant Quarantine Office of Seychelles in this regard.

The Pest Risk Analysis for 10 fruits and vegetables has now been cleared for the issue import permits, according to Randy Stravens of the National Plant Protection Office (NPPO), Seychelles.

The NPPO is in the process of obtaining clearance for nine more fruits and vegetables.