Diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC will support this year’s edition of the country’s premier economic summit hosted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), on the timely theme of ‘Towards exports of USD 50 billion’, as the Platinum Sponsor. 

The high-level annual forum brings together ‘thought leaders’ – policymakers, top local and foreign academics, corporate sector leaders etc. – to one platform to deliberate on and explore solutions for key economic issues of the country. It will address themes with close affinity to Sunshine Holdings – with several business units of the conglomerate engaged in exports – including ‘Championing of value addition in agri exports’ and ‘Sustainability led export growth.’ In addition to supporting the ‘Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2015’ through the sponsorship, Sunshine Holdings will also contribute towards intellectual discourse at the event with its Group Managing Director, Vish Govindasamy participating as a panellist at the 8^th session of the event – the ‘CEO Forum’ – on 5^th August, 2015.

“Sunshine Holdings takes pride in supporting an event of the calibre of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit, a premier thought leadership forum in the country which generates much needed dialogue on issues which are critical to the evolution of the Sri Lankan economy,” Vish Govindasamy said. “As a conglomerate with business units involved in exports of a number of products, this year’s theme of the Economic Summit is most fitting and relevant to Sunshine Holdings and we anticipate that the forum will generate ideas which can provide much-needed impetus to improve Sri Lanka’s exports.”

The Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka has identified several areas of focus for the country to achieve the target of US$ 50 billion in exports. These include sufficient value addition, proper implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), increased inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), implementation of new initiatives and high tech products. The business units of Sunshine Holdings have been functioning in line with these objectives even prior to their introduction. The conglomerate’s business units have strongly focused on value-addition and its plantation sector and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) divisions account for exports of a significant value, especially in tea.

Sunshine Holdings PLC is a diversified holding company contributing to ‘nation building’ by creating value in vital sectors of the Sri Lankan economy – including healthcare, agribusiness, fast moving consumer goods and renewable energy. The group, which provides employment to approximately 12,000, generates over US$ 120 million in revenue. Sunshine Holdings is consistently ranked among the LMD Top 50 companies in Sri Lanka and is also one of the country’s largest tax payers – contributing over Rs. 500 million to the state’s coffers annually.