17 May 2016 09:13 am
A business forum and business-to-business (B2B) meetings between the visiting 29-member German business delegation headed by Uwe Beckmeyer, Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Sri Lankan business community, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB), was held at the auditorium of the DHPL building yesterday.
Strategic Development and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, International Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe, German Ambassador Dr. Juergen Morhard, SLEDB Chairperson Indira Malwatte, Board of Investment Chairman Upul Jayasuriya along with several corporate leaders were present at the occasion.
A joint declaration of intent concerning corporation on sustainable energy between Power and Renewable Energy Ministry and Economic Affairs and Energy Federal Ministry was signed at the occasion. Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister Ajith Perera and Beckmeyer signed the declaration on behalf of the respective ministries.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry and SEIMENS was also signed. Western Region Megapolis Planning Project Project Director Lakshman Jayasekara and Seimens Sri Lanka Country Manager Anirudh Tandon signed on behalf of the respective institutions.
The 29-member business delegation of leading German enterprises from mid-sized to large multinational corporations, representing BMW, Seimens along with over 20 companies representing automobiles, banking, infrastructure development, tourism, smart cities/megapolis and renewable energy/waste-to-energy and many more sectors.
More than 150 representatives from the Sri Lankan business community and other relevant institutions participated in the business forum and the B2B sessions. The oversubscription of this business forum highlights the keen interest shown by the Sri Lankan business community in meeting with the German business delegation.