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Business Dialogue between DCCI delegation & Ceylon Chamber
A business dialogue between the visiting delegation of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held at the Hilton Colombo Residence Hotel on 17 June 2025. Sri Lanka's Minister for Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi was the chief guest at the event.
Taskeen Ahmed, President of Dhaka Chamber said that despite the immense potential of trade and investment between the two SAARC countries, it has not yet reached the desired level, but this potential can be exploited by improving relations between the private sector of the two countries. He said Sri Lankan entrepreneurs can invest in Bangladesh's logistics infrastructure, tourism, education and health services, construction, renewable energy, agro-processing products and information technology sectors. The DCCI president also urged the Sri Lankan businesses to import pharmaceuticals, readymade garments, footwear, electronics and jute products from Bangladesh.
Taskeen Ahmed stressed the importance of expeditiously signing the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries to expand bilateral trade and investment. In addition, Sri Lanka's experience and technical assistance in the development of the maritime economy, deep-sea fishing and port management will play an important role in improving Bangladesh's skills in these sectors.
Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said that Bangladesh is one of the closest friends of Sri Lanka for many years. Despite the trade figures between these two friendly SAARC countries does not reflect the real strength of both way trade, but it is high time we move it further. Terming Bangladeshi people 'pro-business' and the private sector 'very resilient', he said that Sri Lanka will always stay alongside Bangladesh. He expressed that both Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi companies will work together to keep the economies stronger in this region. He later invited Bangladeshi investors to invest in Sri Lanka's various potential sectors such as logistics and tourism sector.
Sunil Handunneththi, Minister for Industry and Entrepreneurship Development of Sri Lanka said that this business forum is very timely to achieve not only the commercial benefits but also shared interest of regional progress. The economic relation of both countries has shown promising bilateral trade and investment but failed to achieve required growth. He said, the potential of bilateral trade is still untapped. Textile, pharmaceuticals, ship-building and digital services are some of the potential sectors for both the investors of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, he added. We are equally committed to support our local entrepreneurs and businesses in exploring opportunities in Bangladesh and we invite your enterprises to consider our nation as a gateway to diversified market especially in our open up new economic policies, he added. At present Sri Lanka is free from corruption and government is inviting foreign investment giving various facilities. They also aimed to enhance their trade facilitation framework, improve logistic connectivity, harmonize standard and reduce non-tariff barriers. He also underscored the importance of chamber to chamber relation. The industry leaders and policy makers must need to promote regional cooperation through direct business to business cross border initiative, he added. Entrepreneurship and innovation should be at the heart of our regional agenda as well as we must empower our startups and SMEs, he further said.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Andalib Elias, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkody and President of Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Council Dr. Asanka Ratnayake delivered also spoke on the occasion.
Andalib Elias, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka is also progressing like Bangladesh rapidly. He also said that Bangladeshi business people are very enthusiastic and they are keen to collaborate with their Sri Lankan counterparts to elevate the economy into new height.
Rizwan Rahman, former president of Dhaka Chamber, presented the keynote paper on the investment potential of Bangladesh at the event. He said that young skilled human resources and Special Economic Zones of Bangladesh has created huge potential for foreign investors in Bangladesh. He emphasized on the need to sign FTAs at the earliest to expand trade and investment between the two countries.
Meanwhile, at least 200 business to business match-making meetings (b2b) held between DCCI delegation members and Sri Lankan counterparts held where 90 Sri Lankan companies took part. During this time, the entrepreneurs from both countries got the opportunity to exchange their business and investment information and ideas which will play an effective role in expanding bilateral trade in future.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Dhaka Chamber and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with an aim to expand bilateral trade and investment as well as to strengthen relations between the private sector representatives of both countries. Dhaka Chamber President Taskeen Ahmed and Ceylon Chamber President Duminda Hulangamuwa signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.
Later, the business delegation members, led by Dhaka Chamber President Taskeen Ahmed, paid a courtesy call on Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra .
DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman, and members of the delegation also attended the meeting.
Published on: 2025-06-17