The annual Private-Public Partnership Conference, organized by the US and Sri Lankan Governments will be held in Colombo from October 12 – 14, 2010, for the second time.
The conference which will be held at the Hilton Hotel will give business executives of both countries a chance to meet with government officials to discuss the possibilities of expanding U.S. businesses in Sri Lanka. According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C. last year’s event featured more than 40 American businesses, as well as those already operating in India.
The conference is organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C. and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Embassy in Colombo and the Sri Lanka Trade Ministry. “Make Sri Lanka your next business stop” is the theme of the conference, as stated by the US Department of Commerce.
Following the conference, the United States and Sri Lanka will hold talks over the U.S.-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) which will give maximum benefits to the Sri Lankan business community from trades with the U.S.
“Our first conference last year gave people a good look at Sri Lanka, and the potential for businesses,” said Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United States. “Now some of those businesses are planning to begin operations in Sri Lanka. We want to make sure that business people know the advantages of investing here.”
As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said, “This conference will provide you with an excellent opportunity to discuss specific investment opportunities with senior officials of the Sri Lankan government and to meet with many prospective investment partners on a one-to-one basis. US investors will also have an opportunity to visit Jaffna, on October 12 to gather first-hand information on the area and its business potential.