First German Sri Lankan Logistics Conference in Colombo

On the occasion of the official visit of German Vice-Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Steffen Bilger, the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) organised the first-ever German Sri Lankan Logistics Conference on August 29 at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo.

About 200 decision makers of politics and business attended the event to discuss opportunities of cooperation to achieve the common target to develop Sri Lanka’s position as a logistic hub into a regional trading hub, a media release from the organisers said. 

Chief Delegate of German Industry and Commerce stated in his opening speech: "There is a profound industry-driven logistics know-how in Germany, which has been a key factor for Germany’s economic success in the world. Logistics have been in Germany for many years a top priority. In fact, Germany has been ranked for many years at rank Number 1 in the World’s logistic performance index.” The index which includes the six main categories Logistic competence, tracking and Tracing, Timeliness, infrastructure, international shipments and Customs is yearly published by the World Bank and classifies 160 countries.

Topics like intelligent warehousing, E-Commerce, 4-PL, project logistics as well as the needed regulatory set up were at the centre of the discussions.

Many world’s leading companies such as the world’s largest logistic company DHL, Hellmann, DB Schenker, Kuehne & Nagel, the world’s 5th largest shipping line Hapag Lloyd, Mercmarine, Hamburg Sued and others have been operating in Sri Lanka for decades. In future they and other new companies could increase their operations and investments with a more optimized regulatory frame, the release said.

As the official representative of German business in Sri Lanka, AHK Sri Lanka is strongly committed to fair business, level playing field, free trade and liberalization. Until today foreign companies operating in freight forwarding and shipping are restricted to be minority shareholders of maximum 40 per cent.

“Companies that want to provide bonded warehousing services as Multi Country Consolidation need to have a minimum capital of US$5 million. Therefore, many foreign investors were very reluctant to conduct further or new investments. With the right regulatory frame German companies could be strategic partners to achieve the targets to become a leading hub in Asia,” it said.