8 April 2016 09:59 am
Sri Lankan corporates are to get more opportunities to link to global and regional initiatives, as part of a new engagement between the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Sri Lanka, the country’s premier trade chamber Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said. Following the visit of a highlevel Sri Lankan delegation to WEF last month, opportunities are now being identified for WEF to support the country through its global initiatives ranging from global production systems, agricultural transformation, and trade facilitation. The Business Engagement Team of the WEF has also indicated interest in welcoming more Sri Lankan companies into the WEF network, enabling them to be part of regional summits and network with top global corporates and the leading brands.
The visit, which came just two months after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe participated at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos in January, 2016, consisted of senior government officials and a representative from the CCC. CCC Chief Economist Anushka Wijesinha joined the delegation as the key private sector representative, to explore how the new engagement between WEF and Sri Lanka can open new avenues for Sri Lankan business. Speaking on the potential opportunities, Wijesinha observed:
“Membership of the World Economic Forum, participation in their global and regional summits, and being linked to their platforms on strategic themes offer a unique opportunity for Sri Lankan businesses that are aspiring to go to the next level.”
“The networking opportunities are unparalleled. For any Sri Lankan business looking to go global and be a part of global initiatives, linking with organizations like WEF is crucial. We will do our best to create more avenues for this type of engagement for the Sri Lankan private sector,” he added. The WEF is the leading international organization for public-private cooperation, and it engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.