National Chamber leads trade delegation to Vietnam

A trade delegation to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) in association with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Hanoi, returned to the island on last week.
Sri Lanka has a greater opportunity to expand trade relations with Vietnam with her recent accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with reduced imports tariff in Vietnam. Vietnam is an emerging economy with highly activated business and trading environment. The delegation visited Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi cities the largest commercial and administrative capital of Vietnam respectively.

The NCCSL delegation participated at the inauguration ceremony of the Vietnam Expo 2008 on the invitation of the Vietnam government authorities.

The delegation members also met the officials of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry both in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Department of Trade and Commerce, Vietnam Peoples Party Chief and the senior authorities of the government of Vietnam where several key issues on trade relations were discussed.

The delegates had several one to one business meetings with their counterparts in Vietnam and established close trade links with businessmen and industrialists on tea, tea processing machinery, rubber related products, food processing, agriculture machinery/equipment, 2 wheel and 4 wheel tractors, spare parts and equipment, agriculture, farming and fruits and vegetable growing.

The Ministry of Trade in Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials pledged their fullest co-operation to improve the bilateral trade between two countries.

During the several meetings held with the Vietnam Govt authorities the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Hanoi graciously participated with the NCCSL Trade Delegation and extended his fullest cooperation. Delegation comprised of Mr Sudath C Munasinghe (Joint Leader), Chief Executive Officer, John Keells PLC, Mr Zaki Alif (Joint Leader), Group Director, Stassen Exports Ltd, Mr Milton Perera, Partner, Kusumsiri Motor Traders, Mr D Pathmanathan, Managing Director, George Steuart (Teas & Marketing) Pvt Ltd, Mr Ajit P Kangaratchchi, Chairman/ MD, Crown Group of Companies, Mr Nihal Wadugodapitiya, Chief Executive Officer, Jinasena Group of Companies, Mr Natarajan Ramanathan, Director/ GM, Jafferjee Brothers, Mr Sarath Sirisena, Director/ CEO, Lanka Commodity Brokers Ltd, Mr Krishan Jayawardene, Head of Engineering Operations, Walker & Co PLC, Mr R A Jayantha, Proprietor, Yamada Motor International and Mr Kumara Kandalama, the Deputy Secretary General of the NCCSL.