Country branding vital to lure investments - Martin Roll

The Sri Lankan government needs to explore country branding through the utilization of relationships with local private enterprises, in order to boost exports and attract more investment to the country, according to Senior Advisor to the BursonMarsteller Global Strategy Team, Martin Roll.

India plans big time investments in SL

India is to set up a mega manufacturing and export zone for engineering and manufacturing auto parts and also a pharmaceutical hub in Sri Lanka, India’s Trade and Commerce Minister stated.

Ad firm submits bid for US $ 9mn Ceylon Tea brand promotion

Leading global public relations firm Burson-Marsteller has submitted its bid for the marketing of Ceylon Tea to the Sri Lanka Tea Board, according to Senior Advisor to the Global Strategy Team of BursonMarsteller, Martin Roll.

Know thyself: Corporate culture begins with introspection

Another reader of this column writes: “I am a management trainee in a medium-sized business organisation. I was attending a workshop on Management Essentials recently and the trainer was briefly discussing the importance of a company’s culture in adapting to changes of outside business

Are you a stock market investor or a trader?

It’s no exaggeration to say that the world of stock-buyers is made up of two kinds of people: Those who buy to hold and those who buy to sell. Put it another way, it’s made up of investors and traders. Many people believe investing in the stock market and trading in the stock market are one

Stocks hit five - week high on policy action hopes

REUTERS: Sri Lankan stocks rose to a five-week high yesterday on hopes the government will act to revive trading on an exchange that has fallen 18 percent so far this year. Markets were closed on Wednesday for a public holiday.

Ad agencies battle for US$ 9mn Ceylon Tea contract today

Four advertising industry powerhouses will battle it out today with the aim of securing a US$ 9 million contract, which will provide the winner with the task of promoting the Ceylon Tea brand, an advertising industry official stated.

Recognizing unsung heroines of economy

It took me a visit to a friend who runs a small garment supplying company, to realize just how advanced the Sri Lankan garment industry is...

PBJ, market stakeholders try to keep media at bay

Although the meeting market stakeholders had with Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara, reportedly bore no real result, it was decided to issue an official statement by the Finance Ministry about the outcomes of the meeting, to curb contradictory media reports.

Galadari deep in red with Rs.331mn exchange loss

Galadari Hotels (Lanka) PLC’s net loss widened during the June 2012 quarter as the hotel firm reported a net loss of Rs.323 million against Rs.18 million net loss it incurred in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Manipulation in the Sri Lankan stock market

A stock market is expected to present a level playing field to all investors. However, stock holders trading in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) have encountered hurdles to trading, coming from both major private investors

ZILLIONe wins Microsoft Country Partner award

ZILLIONe Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. proudly announced that it had won the 2012 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for Sri Lanka at Microsoft’s prestigious Worldwide Partner Conference,

US$ 20mn invested in Lanka’s first space academy

Sri Lanka’s first space academy is to be built next year through an investment of US$ 20 million, through a joint venture between Supreme Satellite Private Limited Colombo and Great Wall Industry Corporation of China (CGWIC).

CB’S credit ceiling stumps smaller banks

The profitability of the smaller banks in the country is likely to get hit as a result of the credit ceiling the Central Bank imposed in February this year to cut credit growth, analysts opined.

Case for global NR sustainability framework

There had been a steady growth in the development of voluntary national eco-labelling and private CSR strategies. Over the course of the past decade, these approaches have been complemented by growth in the use of global and sector-wide voluntary standards and sustainability initiatives (VSIs), such as Fair Trade, Forest Stewardship Council, Rainforest Alliance, Round table on Sustainable Palm Oil etc.

‘Port City’ work to begin this year

The construction work of the ‘Port City’ development project that will reclaim the Galle Face beachfront will commence during the latter part of this year, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said in a statement.

Global Finance names HSBC Best Consumer Internet Bank

HSBC Sri Lanka has won the Best Consumer Internet Bank by Global Finance for the seventh consecutive year, in its 13th competition of the World’s Best Internet Banks 2012.

Investing in the stock market: Points to ponder

Before an investor buys or sells shares, he needs to contact a stockbroker, licensed with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) to carry out the transactions on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).

3-D strategy for employees, management and company

A young reader of this column working as a management trainee in a business organisation wrote to me last week. She said, “Our MD informed us that from October, the company is planning to introduce a Career Management programme

Greatest challenge of Biotechnology

Can the great potentials of biotechnology be directed towards ensuring food security and economic development in the developing world?

Asian markets mostly up on upbeat earnings

HONG KONG (AFP) - Asian markets mostly rose Thursday following upbeat earnings results in the region and the United States, while eurozone fears eased slightly on hopes over the funding of future bailouts.

Parkson Retail to buy 42% of ODEL for Rs.1.4 billion

ODEL PLC yesterday announced a significant change of ownership, with Parkson Retail Asia Limited, a Malaysia based department store chain, agreeing to purchase a 41.82 per cent stake in the company for Rs 1.424 billion.

Source code - boon or bane of software development companies?

What really is a source code? To the uninitiated, it is a kind of product DNA which software development companies carefully put together and it forms the base to develop...

Sky is the limit – women who conquered the clouds

All she had at the beginning was a passion to conquer the skies that had until then been limited mostly to men – she was Amelia Earhart, the first woman to have piloted a plane...

20 Winners Enjoy an Unforgettable Tour to Universal Studios - Singapore With KFC & Pepsi

KFC in partnership with Pepsi recently sent 20 Sri Lankans on an all-expenses paid tour to Singapore which included an all access day pass to Universal Studios-Singapore, one of the foremost theme parks in the world.

PB stresses on practical solutions for market sufferings

Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara’s meeting with the SEC Commissioners and the CSE board members yesterday ended up with a consensus to work towards practical solutions to boost the ailing Colombo bourse, Mirror Business learns.

May exports, imports fall; trade gap grows 2.1%

Sri Lanka’s exports in the month of May fell 15.1 percent year-on-year (YoY) to US$ 710 million, while imports also slowed down 6.4 percent YoY to US$ 1.5 billion, the data released by the Central Bank showed.

Cathay accepts Skytrax “World’s Best Business Class” award

Through listening to customers and incorporating their feedback in product design, Cathay Pacific Airways was voted “World’s Best Business Class” in the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards™ programme, in which more than 18 million airline passengers from across the world picked their choices.

Brandix crowned Asia’s ‘Best Brand’ for second year

Sri Lanka’s top apparel exporter Brandix has been adjudged Asia’s ‘Best Brand’ for the second consecutive year by the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council and won three more awards at the 2012 CMO Asia Awards for Excellence in Branding and Marketing held at Park Royal, Singapore.

PHDT awarded quality mgt certification

The Plantations Human Development Trust (PHDT) has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the accredited body in Sri Lanka by the International Standards Organization.