The Sri Lanka–France Business Council (SLFBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce conducted its 19th Annual General Meeting recently.
Ambassador of France Jean-François Pactet said that France assisted in setting up Sri Lanka’s committee of Official Creditors, which it co-chairs with Japan and India, and is playing a key role in the restructuring of Sri Lanka’s external official bilateral debt.
France, through the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Ministry of Economy continues to develop its cooperation through grants to finance technical assistance in the agriculture, renewable energy, and marine sectors in Sri Lanka.
President of the SLFBC, Ashiq Lafir, who was re-elected to lead the Council for 2023/24, said the SLFBC is committed to fostering stronger trade, investment, and tourism ties between Sri Lanka and France and looks forward to continuing its efforts in the coming year. Andre Fernando and Geeshan Wijenayake were elected as Vice Presidents for 2023-24.
CEVA Logistics, CMA CGM, DIMO, Inter Air and Sea Logistics, and Puritas, were nominated to serve on the Committee, while representatives from the Board of Investment, Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Economic Counsellor of the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka will serve as invited Members.