Indian Minister Hon. Kurshid & Rishad in Delhi meet

Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce) called on Salman Khurshid (External Affairs Minister of India) on 16 January in New Delhi.

Minister Bathiudeen was in Delhi leading the Sri Lankan delegation to the fifth SAARC Business Leaders Conclave (SBLC) which successfully concluded on 17 January at K.K.Birla Auditorium, FICCI, New Delhi.

The Sri Lankan high Commission in Delhi states: “Both ministers discussed a range of issues relating to enhancing trade and investment between the two countries. They also discussed specific measures that can be taken to deepen trade and investment in region. Minister Bathiudeen explained recent initiatives taken by Sri Lanka for greater facilitation of trade among SAARC countries through further liberalization of access to the Sri Lankan market.”

The fifth SBLC, themed “South Asian Century: Progressing towards Regional Integration”  was organised in New Delhi with the collaboration of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF)’s Regional Directorate in New Delhi. More than 300 SAARC business personalities and top trade officials were in attendance at the event. The Secretary General SAARC, Ahmed Saleem, was also present at the SBLC. Minister Bathiudeen led the Sri Lankan delegation consisting of Lankan officials and businessmen, and addressed the concluding session of fifth SBLC.

The 17th January SBLC session saw constructive debates among the participants and the prominent SAARC business attendees on how to solve issues and move regional B2B commerce forward, in years to come.