Thu, 2013-01-24 01:52 — editor
The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) carried out a productive business
promotion mission to China with establishment the Eminent Persons’ Advisory
Council (EPAC) comprising senior personalities from the both countries. This
mission was organized at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association of
Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD), a Beijing based think-tank.
The visit which was the first follow-up initiative
after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the PF and CPAPD
last year also resulted in agreements being reached on the establishment of the
Eminent Persons’ Advisory Council (EPAC) comprising senior personalities from
the two countries.
The EPAC would adopt a strategic perspective on the
course of Sri Lanka – China relations over the next 5 – 10 years. The EPAC will
set up technical sub-committees to realize the spirit of the MoU in such areas
as strengthening economic, political, strategic and cultural relations.
The delegation comprised senior executives from three
of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified conglomerates: Dr. Rohan Fernando, Director
Aiken Spence PLC, Head of Plantations and Business Development and Managing
Director of Elpitiya Plantations (PLC). Mr. Vasantha Leelananda, Executive Vice
President of John Keells Holdings PLC, Head-Destination Management sector. Mr.
Nandalal Perera, Director/Chief Executive, Hayley’s Agro Fertilizers (Pvt) Ltd,
and Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy (Deputy Chairman) and Dr. Valsan Vethody
(Advisor) represented the Pathfinder Foundation. The delegation, hosted by Mr.
Zhu Rui, Secretary General of CPAPD and former Mayor of Changzhou had several
mutually beneficial meetings with Chinese business counterparts.
Among the Chinese organizations with which they had
detailed discussions were: the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering,
Department of Tourism Promotion and International Liaison, Changzhou
Agricultural Committee, Changzhou Tourism Committee and several other private
enterprises.
The delegation visited Beijing and Changzhou, a
rapidly growing city of 5 million people situated between Shanghai and Nanjing.
The mission generated a number of useful contacts and potential business
opportunities, in many areas of interest to Sri Lanka. These include
agriculture (fruits, vegetables, green house farming, horticulture, seed
production and organic farming), agriculture machinery and equipment
manufacture/assembly, livestock development, solar energy at farm level and
tourism related projects including inbound tour operations, agro-tourism and
other leisure activities.
The PF and the CPAPD intend to develop further
mutually beneficial exchanges between the two countries in keeping with the MoU
signed between the two organizations.
- Asian Tribune -
