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SCCI explores opportunities for economic partnerships with Sri Lanka

Dubai - The UAE is among the top 10 countries in the volume of trade with Sri Lanka in various economic sectors.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) is keen on boosting ties with Sri Lankan business communities and this was explored at a high-level meeting held on Tuesday.

Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of SCCI, received a Sri Lankan high-level delegation headed by Malraj De Silva, Sri Lankan ambassador to the UAE, accompanied by Nalinda Wijerathna, consul-general of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Present at the meeting were Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, SCCI director-general, Fatima Al Mokarrab, director of International Relations Department, and Lalu Samuel, chairman of the representative committee of the industry sector business group.

The meeting touched on the prospects for joint cooperation between the two sides, increasing trade exchange, enhancing business partnerships between business communities in Sharjah and Sri Lanka, and intensifying meetings between commercial delegations to speed up the performance of business sectors in various commercial, industrial, and service sectors.

The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation in industry, commerce, tourism, and education sectors, introducing investment opportunities available in both countries, and organising joint events to make the most of the important competitive economic elements in Sharjah and Sri Lanka.

"Such meetings are of particular importance as they help introduce businessmen to the available investment opportunities, strengthen bilateral and economic relations, and increase trade exchange between the two countries," said Al Owais.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador noted that the UAE is among the top 10 countries in the volume of trade with Sri Lanka in various economic sectors such as real estate, infrastructure, food, and tourism sectors, calling the SCCI to learn closely about areas of investment in his country, especially in the agricultural, printing, publishing, education fields, and in particular, the medical tourism which is witnessing a tremendous leap and enjoying advanced investment components.

De Silva said: "The visit aims to further develop the bilateral cooperation between the two sides, especially that UAE and Sri Lanka have a long history of cooperation in economic field and trade exchange.

The Sri Lankan delegation toured the permanent exhibition of locally manufactured products, where they were briefed on a wide range of products that are locally manufactured by more than 180 firms and exhibited through 191 stands. It is worth noting that the value of non-oil imports from Sri Lanka to the UAE amounted to $791.5 million, and the value of exports from the UAE to Sri Lanka reached $124 million during the year 2019, while the SCCI includes about 83 Sri Lankan registered companies. - business@khaleejtimes.com