RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council, in association with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Business Forum and B2B Networking Session at the Hilton Colombo Residence on Thursday, June 18.
The event brought together nineteen business delegates from Belgium and Luxembourg, creating a valuable platform for strengthening trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and the Benelux region.
Addressing the gathering were Ambassador of Belgium to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Didier Vanderhasselt, and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, Chandana Weerasena. Both ambassadors highlighted the growing bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Belgium and emphasized the importance of fostering greater economic cooperation.
The forum featured representatives from a range of key sectors, including Technology and Innovation, Sustainable Development, Manufacturing and Industrial Development, Agriculture and Food Processing, Trade and Investment, Renewable Energy and Environmental Solutions, and Financial and Professional Services.
A significant highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the BELGOLUX Sri Lanka Business Council to promote bilateral trade, investment, and business cooperation. The signing ceremony was attended by Shiran Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; Farhath Amith, President of the Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council, Thomas De Beule, President of the BELGOLUX Sri Lanka Business Council; and Sampath Tennakoon, Secretary General of the BELGOLUX Sri Lanka Business Council.
During the ceremony, Farhath Amith, President of the Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council, and Shameel Mohideen, Vice President of the Council, presented tokens of appreciation to Ambassador Didier Vanderhasselt and Ambassador Chandana Weerasena in recognition of their contributions to strengthening bilateral relations.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Shameel Mohideen, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Benelux Business Council, who expressed appreciation to all participants and stakeholders for their support in making the event a success.
