The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Trade Fair Unit kets, recently concluded another successful business promotion mission to Iran and Pakistan.

The 11-member delegation was led by Samantha Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer, Chemical Industries (Colombo) PLC and included Mahen Kariyawasan, Managing Director, Andrew The Travel Company (Private) Ltd, Keerthi Kotagama, Managing Director, CIC Agribusinesses (Pvt) Ltd, Mario de Zoysa, Manager - Exports, Imperial Spices (Pvt) Ltd, Karthik Ramachandran, Commercial Manager, Jayes Trading Company, Krishan Balendra, Head of Corporate Finance and Strategy, John Keells Holdings PLC, Keith Paulusz, Assistant General Manager – International, N M K Group of Companies, Sena Sriyapperuma, Director / General Manager, Pyramid Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Shamila Nagasena. Executive – International Marketing, Samson Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Jamaldeen Jauffer, Chairman, U S Shipping and Cargo Services (Pte) Ltd. The mission was co-ordinated by Puvi Domingopillai, Consultant, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Whilst the delegation had the opportunity of strengthening their existing trade ties, the mission also achieved its main objectives of establishing avenues to penetrate into these markets. CCC’s liaison with the Sri Lankan missions in Iran and Pakistan assisted them in forging partnerships with the business communities in Iran and Pakistan, according to a chamber statement.

The mission which was organised to coincide with three major agriculture-based fairs in Tehran, gave the delegates the privilege of visiting and viewing the displays of over 300 stalls covering a range of agri based products. The contacts made through these fairs added value to the delegates, the chamber said.

“The mission made greater strides in Pakistan compared to Iran. In Pakistan the delegates had the advantage of meeting with many business/industrial organisations namely, the members of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to the industrialists from Korangi Association of Trade & Industry, Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Forum, Pakistan Sri Lanka Friendship Association and the 21st Century Business and Economics Club”, the statement added.