The Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ILCCI) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion with Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, on Sri Lanka’s industrial growth plan and Indo-Sri Lanka trade and economic cooperation. The event, brought together key stakeholders to explore the government’s economic vision and growth strategies.
President ILCCI, Mr. M. Raghuraman, welcomed Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe and reaffirmed ILCCI’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and business collaborations between India and Sri Lanka.
Deputy Minister Abeysinghe outlined the government’s priorities under the new budget, including investments in infrastructure, energy, and digitalisation, with a priority focus on customs and tax administration. He also emphasised the need for stronger border controls, policy reforms, and industry-specific growth plans to enhance competitiveness.
The wide array of sectors discussed included IT, tourism, marine industries, vehicle parts manufacturing, agriculture and more. The Deputy Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s potential as an IT hub and the importance of export growth and investment-friendly policies. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to removing bureaucratic bottlenecks and encouraged private sector collaboration to drive industrial growth. A key request was for the sectors to bring in their suggestions and plans for improvements as a cluster to ensure overall alignment in changes for progress.
The session concluded with a dynamic Q & A, where industry representatives shared insights and recommendations. Discussions also covered key areas such as skills training, access to financing, education, and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), highlighting their importance in driving economic growth and industry development.