A high-powered CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) delegation of Indian CEOs representing sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, renewable energy, education, and tourism met with Sri Lankan business leaders at the ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo on June 30 for a strategic roundtable discussion.
The roundtable was organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the High Commission of India.
The Ceylon Chamber delegation was led by Mr. Krishan Balendra. Chairman of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the CII delegation was led by Mr. Sanjiv Puri, Immediate Past President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Chairman & Managing Director of ITC Ltd.
The discussions focused on improving trade facilitation, aligning regulatory frameworks, and encouraging investment flows between the two countries. There was a strong emphasis on unlocking sector-specific opportunities through joint ventures, knowledge-sharing, and sustained business dialogue.
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, noted, “India has a neighbourhood first policy, which means a more generous non reciprocal approach to the relationship towards our neighbours and Sri Lanka is a central part of that neighbourhood first policy”
Mr. Balendra remarked, “We are lucky to be right next door to the fastest growing big economy in the world, and it’s about how we tap into that opportunity and collaborate with the private sector in India”
Mr. Puri observed that there are several trends that are providing opportunities across the world and his belief is that there is a great opportunity of businesses in India and Sri Lanka to work together not only to address opportunities in their domestic markets but also for the larger global market.
President of the ILCCI, Mr. Raghuraman, in his closing remarks, highlighted the successes achieved by both countries, driven by the determination and initiative of the business communities. He also emphasized the importance of such forums as valuable platforms for the exchange of ideas and collaboration.
The roundtable concluded with a commitment to build on the discussions and maintain structured engagement through chamber networks and ongoing business collaboration.