Sri Lanka, Kenya build business ties, seek to exploit strategic locations

ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka and Kenya can mutually benefit through closer business ties due to their strategic locations, a junior minister said during a visit to the East African state, according to an official statement.

Development Strategies and International Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe, who led a business delegation, said Kenya is the gateway to East Africa, while Sri Lanka, with its growing free trade agreement network, is the gateway to Asia.

He was speaking at the Sri Lanka-Kenya Business Forum organized by the Sri Lanka High Commission in Nairobi.

The private sector delegation comprised of representatives from Hettigoda Industries Ltd, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, Orient Lanka Confectionary Ltd, Synex Holdings  and Synex International Pvt Ltd,  St Theresa Industries (Kenya) Ltd. and Ceylon Agro-Industries Limited.

They had the opportunity to meet prospective buyers, wholesalers and Kenyan entrepreneurs.

The Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industries(KNCCI) and the High Commission briefed  the Sri Lanka  delegation on the  business environment  in Kenya and opportunities available for Sri Lankan companies in the areas of  Fast Moving  Consumer  Goods and light engineering.

Senasinghe said Kenya and Sri Lanka are not rivals, and can grow together through collaboration.

He invited a Kenyan business delegation to visit Sri Lanka, and called for an increase in the number of business visits between the two countries.

Kenya will be hosting the 2nd Joint Trade Committee of the two countries, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba told Senasinghe during a meeting.

Senasinghe said that Sri Lanka will help Kenya to improve the quality of cricket, similar to how the African nation helped local long distance runners. (Colombo/Sept07/2018)