The first major post-war investment Forum in Jaffna, attracting both national and international investments to the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka, is scheduled to take place on 6 and 7 January 2010.

This is the “BizPAct Investment Forum – Jaffna”. The Forum is convened by The Business for Peace Alliance (BPA), Sri Lanka’s network of regional business chambers.

The Business for Peace Action Programme, or “BizPAct” as it is better known, is a long term programme designed by BPA. The BizPAct ‘Invest in Sri Lanka’ Symposium in Colombo, coupled with visits to the regions that took place in June this year was a key milestone of this programme. The symposium kindled the interest of local and foreign investors to take advantage of the window of opportunity for developing the regions of Sri Lanka through responsible joint venture business partnerships with the SMEs in these areas.

The “BizPAct Investment Forum – Jaffna will focus on responsible economic development opportunities for small and medium enterprises. It provides a unique platform linking the business community based in Colombo, regional SMEs, international investors, and Sri Lankan investors domiciled overseas, together with the business community in the North and East.

Besides matching investors and deserving entrepreneurs from the regions, the Forum will provide prospective investors an opportunity for dialogue with high level Government officials on policy issues relating to investment in the North and East. Participants will also gain first hand insights into the North and East, revealing the ground realities.

The two day programme includes an interactive forum, a series of field visits to project locations, opportunities to link up with the business leaders in the North and East and exchange samples of products.

The Board of Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka Tourism Authority, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,   National Chamber of Exporters, American Chamber of Commerce, the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, International Alert, UNDP and IOM  are partnering BPA in this Conference. The Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and the Yarlpanam Chamber of Commerce, both members of the BPA network, are making the ground arrangements in Jaffna.

The “BizPact Investment Forum – Jaffna is expected to attract to Jaffna members of the Sri Lankan diaspora who wish to invest in their home country , resident Sri Lankan investors who want to explore the opportunities that are opening up in the SME sector of the regions of Sri Lanka, Investment Advisers who need to assess the opportunities in SME development in the North and East., Government officials involved in promoting investment in the North and Eastern Province, Members of the regional business community in Sri Lanka and Members of civil society organisations that are involved in supporting the economic development of the regions of Sri Lanka. Participants are offered transport from Colombo to Jaffna and back, accommodation, internal transport and all facilities in Jaffna.