Sujeewa leads Sri Lanka-France Business Forum

The Sri Lanka-France Business Forum with the participation of eight Sri Lankan companies and over 20 French participants was held recently at the French Business Confederation - MEDEF International in Paris. 

The event was co-organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, Export Development Board and Sri Lanka-France Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.   
The forum was graced with the presence of   Sujeewa Senasinghe, State Minister of International Trade of Sri Lanka. 

Buddhi Athauda, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France, Jeevani Siriwardena, Director General of Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Dr. Asanka Ratnayake President of Sri Lanka - France Business Council, Dr. Anil Perera, Deputy Director, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Chandima Abeyrathna, First Secretary (Commercial) of Embassy of Si Lanka in France, Guy Sidos, Chairman and CEO of VICAT and Geraldine Lemble, Director/MEDEF were also present. 

Ambassador Athauda, highlighted that over US$ 5 billion worth of potential opportunities are available between Sri Lanka and France with recent economic growth and the new policy changes of Sri Lanka.
Delivering his speech, Senasinghe highlighted that Sri Lanka is currently experiencing strong economic growth compared to past few years and stressed the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationships between France and Sri Lanka.  Minister expressed that EU GSP Plus will definitely lead to increased imports in sectors of apparel and fishery products to the French market. 
Minister Senasinghe had bilateral meetings with Philippe Gautier, CEO of MEDEF International and Nelly Rodi, delegate of President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) - Paris. 
CCI- Paris offered their fullest support to organize a Forum and link the businessmen between the two countries in the future with collaboration of other French trade promotional institutions for mutual benefit of the two countries.