Lankan centre in Shanghai to boost bilateral economic ties

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Karunatilaka Amunugama has hailed the opening of the “Sri Lanka Centre” in Shanghai as another milestone in Sino-Lanka relations.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Sri Lanka Centre at the Shanghai Mart last Thursday.

He recalled the close relations that exist between the two countries and noted the steady development of bilateral relations and the comprehensive partnership through mutual support for lasting friendship.

He said that the event is of particular significance as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence.

Ambassador Amunugama pointed out that the Sri Lanka Centre in Shanghai would serve as a catalyst to promote investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.

He thanked S. P. Tao of the Shin Kwan Group, a leading investor in Sri Lanka for many years who is building one of the largest commercial/housing complexes in the heart of Colombo to offer his premises at the Shanghai Mart to showcase Sri Lankan products in Eastern China.

During the opening ceremony, Lee Kang Ho, Chief Representative of Shin Kwan Group was appointed as the Honorary Representative of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka in Shanghai.

The letter of appointment was handed over by A. M. C. Kulasekera, Deputy Director General of the BOI to Mr. Lee.

This would facilitate the promotion of investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, particularly in the Mirigama Industrial Zone by potential Chinese entrepreneurs through the Sri Lanka Centre.

Madam Jian Heping, Vice Chairman, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission (SMERT), Yu Chen, Secretary General, Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Shanghai (CCPIT), Ms. Nie Yuxia, Anhui CCPIT, Liu Guangyong, Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, Li Cheng Ping, Chief Secretary of the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, James Wu of Shanghai CCPIT, Patrick Chen of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission, Senior Government officials from the Provincial Governments of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hunan, Anhui and Fujian, Chinese entrepreneurs, print and electronic media Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and the Sri Lanka Community participated in the opening ceremony.

Madam Jian Heping, Vice Chairman of SMERT recalled the close relations between Sri Lanka and China and added that Shanghai has become the largest economic centre and an important port city in China. It has maintained a GDP growth rate of over 10 per cent during the last decade.

More than 130 foreign countries and regions have investments in 50,000 local projects. She said while the Chinese Government attaches great importance to World Expo Shanghai 2010, the Sri Lanka Centre could provide Sri Lankan and Chinese entrepreneurs an opportunity to strengthen exchanges, build mutual understanding and promote partnership, thus enhancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Yu Chen, Secretary General of CCPIT recalled the visit to Shanghai by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and China last year, when he invited Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Sri Lanka.

Yu said that the increase in bilateral visits by Sri Lankan and Chinese entrepreneurs have created new opportunities and enhanced economic relations with Eastern China. The CCPIT will work closely with Sri Lanka to promote bilateral trade ties.

The rationale for the setting up of the “Sri Lanka Centre” is to showcase Sri Lankan products under one roof to market them in Eastern China and attract investments to Sri Lanka.

The Centre will promote Sri Lankan niche products and also provide services such as business to business (B2B) meetings, explore marketing opportunities, secure orders for Sri Lankan exporters and attract Chinese investments through matching arrangements with local partners.

Shanghai Mart, one of China’s largest International Trade Mart has 2,200 permanent showrooms with a total area over 200,000 square metres. A number of qualified suppliers from three key industries namely, apparel, fabrics and home textiles, giftware and home decor and building materials thus making it an ideal venue to display products and conduct business.

The opening of the Sri Lanka Centre was facilitated by the Consulate of Sri Lanka in Shanghai together with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Shing Kwan Group/Shanghai Mart, under the patronage of Ambassador Amunugama.