Hon Dinesh Gunewardena addresses Indian Merchants’ Chamber

Shri Suresh Prabhu, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Mr Gul Kripalani and Minister Sumedha Jayasena

Now that terrorism had been defeated in Sri Lanka, the country is poised for rapid development under the sound economic policies of HE President Mahinda Rajapaksa. So said Hon Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Urban Development and Sacred area Development, addressing potential investors at the Indian Merchants’ Chamber in Mumbai on 30 October.

Clarifying Sri Lanka’s foreign investor-friendly policies at an interactive seminar organised by the Chamber, the Minister detailed the opportunities available for Indian firms, in particular to join in Sri Lanka’s growth. He pointed out that the expected expansion of the country’s economy presented openings in infrastructure development, particularly in transport, telecommunications and urban development, especially for private-public partnerships. The North and East of the island, devastated after three decades of terrorism, required building up from scratch.

The Indian Merchants’ Chamber covers under its aegis companies and organisations involved in trade, commerce and industry in India. It has over 3,000 direct members and over 200 affiliated associations which encompass over 250,000 business concerns. The Chamber, which was set up in 1907, counts Mahatma Gandhi among its illustrious past members. It is also the first chamber in India to obtain ISO 9001:2000 accreditation.

Following an intense exchange of ideas, one of the participants indicated his willingness, after hearing the Minister’s elucidation of the economic climate, to invest in Sri Lanka immediately.

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, former Indian Minister of Industry, of Environment and Forests, of Fertilisers & Chemicals and of Power, Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises, also expressed his views on the challenges and opportunities facing Indian investors in Sri Lanka and Mrs Sumedha Jayasena, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Development also spoke. Shri Gul Kripalani, President of the Chamber, gave the vote of thanks.