“Sri Lanka is open for business “– Visit of a Sri Lankan Business Delegation to the Philippines for the 48th PCCI Philippine Business Conference and Expo

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manila facilitated the visit of a thirty (30) member business delegation at the 48^th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) from 18-20 October 2022 organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The delegation comprised businessmen from both the Sri Lanka-Philippines Business Council (SLPBC) and the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) representing Sri Lanka’s leading companies and enterprises from the sectors of logistics, construction, engineering, architecture, education, tourism, renewable energy, ICT, manufacturing, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, fashion, automotive, retail, among others.

With a view to maximize the outreach and encourage interactions between the delegates and their Filipino counterparts, several activities were organized by the Embassy, PCCI, and the Philippines-Sri Lanka Business Council (PSLBC), including a meeting with the Congressman Wilbert Lee of AGRI Partylist, business-to-business sessions with reputed Filipino businessmen, a visit and networking session at the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry - the leading organization representing the Filipino-Chinese business community, and other facilitations.

One of the main highlights was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the SLPBC and PSLBC with a view to strengthening cooperation on trade and investment promotion and facilitation between the two countries.

At a breakout session focused on digitalization and the ICT industry, Sri Lanka made a presentation on the country’s potential and the available scope for collaboration between the two countries. An MoU between PCCI and Appigo Philippines, a Sri Lankan e-commerce service provider, was also signed to jumpstart a collaboration on the promotion of e-commerce and digital solutions to Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Notably, the Embassy also facilitated an exploratory discussion between the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association which led to the signing of an MoU between the two organizations as an initial step in connecting the industries towards a win-win collaboration.

As a result of the visit, the represented Sri Lankan industries were appropriately showcased enabling introductions, dialogues, and communication between the delegates and their Filipino counterparts. Several of the companies were also able to secure export orders, build partnerships and linkages, and establish collaboration and mutually beneficial business engagements.

The PBC&E, organized by the PCCI - the country’s biggest business support organization, is a premier gathering of the country’s leading names in business and industries to jumpstart dialogue on key policy issues, monitor government policy and program updates on economic development.