The Fujian Chamber of Commerce and the Fujian local association were founded in Colombo last week creating a platform for cooperation and exchange between the Fujian and Sri Lankan business community.
“This initiative is to further promote China-Sri Lanka traditional friendship and bilateral economic and trade cooperation. It is also a furtherance of the Belt and Road initiative advocate by President Xi to adapt to the growing investment opportunities in the region.
“With the enhance trade and investment opportunities, Sri Lanka will benefit from the establishment of the Chamber,” Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka Pang Chuxue said.
The Fugian and the Sri Lankan people have a long relationship and history of trade and exchange. Sri Lanka has more opportunities to attract investment and trade.
The Chamber will facilitate building a launching pad to build initial contacts and take the relationship between the two parties to the next level, she said.
Sri Lanka is one of the important countries in the 21st century maritime route. More and more entrepreneurs and investors come to Sri Lanka as there is strong and growing relationship between China and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka needs to provide local services and facilities to further trade and investment.
The Fugian province has a growing trade volumes and per capita income that will be beneficial to Sri Lanka, Director Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Fugian Province Feng Zhinong said.
Fugian is a comprehensive developed province in China and it has a lot to offer to Sri Lanka.
There will be more contribution from China and it will continue to be a leading development partner of Sri Lanka creating a win-win situation, he said. China and Sri Lanka which enjoy ancient civilization have solidified the friendship and understanding with the set up of the Fugian Chamber of Commerce. Fugian has followed the foot steps of China in investing in Sri Lanka.
This will be the beginning of a new chapter in relationship. We need to take this to a new height, Minister of Local Government and Sports Faizer Musthapa said.
Sri Lanka has abundant of resources and is a country with a character. The government has put forward a new development strategy and plan providing new opportunities for expansion and development. It will play a positive role in managing the potential companies within a legal framework and expect to see an improvement in the bi-lateral trade. The Belt and Road initiative will further contribute to the growth of economic benefits, he said.
“The Fugian province is closely known to me as it also produces tea. My next trip will be to Fugian province to see the tea gardens.
China is one of the most important markets for Sri Lankan tea. We are happy that China is buying tea in such a large quantity. There is a 20 to 30 percent increase in the market share of tea to China every year, Minister of Plantations, Navin Dissanayake said.
“More and more Chinese women are drinking Sri Lanka’s black tea. We hope that this trend will continue. This is good for the Sri Lankan economy. We will be promoting tea in China and a lot of effort is taken in this regard.
“China is doing extremely well due to open market policies the country adopted.
“We expect China to be the world’s largest economy in the near future. When China does well, Fugian will also do well. This in-turn will help Sri Lanka to do well and the Chamber will further facilitate the growth and exchange of trade and relationship,” he said.