The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has introduced the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Council (SBBC), marking the Chamber's 21st bilateral trade council establishment. High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, Tareq Md. Ariful Islam served as the Chief Guest and Patron of the Council at the inaugural event. He praised the Council's launch, expressing eagerness for its mission to boost business, trade, and investments between the neighboring nations. Highlighting Bangladesh's potential as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, he emphasized its substantial market, investment-friendly policies, strong infrastructure, skilled workforce, and rapid digitalization.
The High Commissioner stressed the importance of broadening import sources and investigating collaborative opportunities across various sectors. Dr. Asanka Ratnayake, the Inaugural President of SBBC and Director at Hayleys Advantis, underscored the council's role in strengthening economic and trade ties between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He highlighted how the products traded between both nations complement each other and affirmed the Council's dedication to partnering with stakeholders to maximize bilateral trade and investment potential.
The Vice Presidents for the 2023/2024 term are Sabrina Esufally, Managing Director of Hemas Holdings PLC, and Tamara Bernard, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Banking at Commercial Bank of Ceylon. The initial Executive Committee of the Council includes representatives from MAS Intimates Bangladesh Ltd., Metropolitan Technologies Ltd., NDB Capital Holdings Ltd., The Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC, and Venora International Projects Ltd. The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Council seeks to act as a platform for collaboration between businesses from both countries, aiming to explore mutual growth opportunities and promote trade, tourism, and investments between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.