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by Elmo Leonard

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC's) Import Section marked 70 years with the vision of being the most influential and effective voice among importers within the business community.

Its forerunner, the Ceylon Importers Association (CIA) was formed in 1901, "to provide leadership to matters pertaining to trade." After nine years of ground-breaking work, it went dormant to be re-established in 1928. In 1935, when British and Europeans dominated business and commerce, CCC had invited CIA to amalgamate, its present chairman, Suraj Fernando said at an event to mark the occasion.

Past chairmen, Sega Nagendra and Anton Abeyesekera were honoured and a toast was proposed for even better health of CCC's Import Section for the next 70 years. The heads of seven government, semi-government and private institutions were also recognised for their contributions to the import trade, being the Departments of Exchange Control, and Import and Export Control, Ministries of Trade, and Finance, Sri Lanka Customs, SriLankan Airlines Cargo Section, Ports Authority and Sri Lanka Standards Institutions.

The founder chairman (1935) was J A Tabot. The founders were Bosanquet and Shrine, Brown and Co, H W Cave and Co; Darley Butler, Delmege Forsyth, Dodwell and Co, James Finlay and Co, Hayley and Kenny, Hunter and Co, Lee Hedges and Co, Mackwoods Ltd, Nestle and Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Co and Volkart Bros.

CCC is now 166 years. CCC's Import section was the first direct arm of CCC and today continues to be the only body to include exclusive CCC members, while CCC has 33 other affiliated associations and bilateral business councils. CCC's Import Section which commenced with 21 members now represents 117 companies.

CCC's Import Section mission is to add value to the businesses by providing a forum for optical issues that would pre-empt undesirable legislation, ensuring a level playing field and adding value to its member's businesses.

Also, of providing services and information that would facilitate efficient resources utilisation and the simplification of procedures in the supply chain management; reducing costs of importation by bench marking against accepted trade practices of developed countries and by reducing transaction costs and financial costs involved.

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