ISLAMABAD, FEB 25 /DNA/ – Rear Admiral Fred Senevirathne (Retd.), High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) along with Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Christy Ruban and Minister Counsellor Mrs. K.H.C. Sankpali to explore new avenues for strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
Addressing the business community, the High Commissioner underscored that Sri Lanka and Pakistan share a longstanding friendship rooted in trust, mutual understanding, and regional cooperation. He described ICCI as a premier business platform committed to advancing trade, industry, and services, and expressed the Sri Lankan High Commission’s keen interest in building a close, structured, and result-oriented partnership with the Chamber.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s strategic advantages, he stated that the island nation’s geographic position at the crossroads of major maritime trade routes connecting the Far East, Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia, and America provides unmatched global connectivity. He noted that the Port of Colombo serves as a major container transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean with modern terminals and advanced infrastructure, while Hambantota International Port, Galle Port, and Trincomalee Port further enhance maritime capacity. He also emphasized Sri Lanka’s strong air connectivity and improving economic outlook, particularly mentioning the 12 Export Processing Zones operating under the Board of Investment, offering dedicated facilities and attractive incentives for export-oriented industries.
The High Commissioner shared that Sri Lanka has regained macroeconomic stability under the guidance of the IMF, with stabilized exchange rates, improved foreign reserves, and rising export earnings. Inviting Pakistani investors, he identified priority sectors including textiles and apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals, IT and IT-enabled services, tourism, agriculture and food processing, construction and infrastructure, as well as automobile and light engineering, encouraging investment through independent ventures and joint collaborations.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President ICCI, stated that Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy cordial and brotherly relations founded on mutual respect and shared regional aspirations. He observed that the existing bilateral trade volume of approximately USD 400–500 million does not reflect the true potential between the two friendly nations and stressed the need to diversify export portfolios, enhance market access, and promote stronger investment linkages.
He highlighted Pakistan’s competitive strengths in textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, sports goods, rice, cement, and IT services, while acknowledging Sri Lanka’s global recognition in tea, rubber and rubber-based products, coconut products, gems and jewelry, tourism, and maritime services. By leveraging these complementarities, he said, both countries can substantially expand two-way trade and develop sustainable joint ventures.
The ICCI President emphasized that regular exchange of trade delegations, single-country exhibitions, and structured B2B forums would serve as practical mechanisms to deepen commercial engagement. He assured full cooperation to the Sri Lankan High Commission in facilitating business networking, promoting joint ventures, and maximizing the benefits of the Free Trade Agreement framework to elevate bilateral trade to new heights.
Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, former President Mian Shaukat Masood, and Chairman Inter-Regional Coordination Committee Kashif Zahir also highlighted the vast untapped trade and investment potential between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Members Zulqurnain Abbasi, Imran Minhas, Mirza Mohammad Ali, Ishaq Sial, Ms. Fatima Azim, Ms. Shumaila Siddiqui, former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry, ICCI member Sajid Iqbal, Chairman Pakistan Association of Exhibition Industry, (PAEI) Khursheed Barlas, and a large number of representatives from the trade and industrial sectors.
Islamabad: Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry presents shield to Rear Admiral Fred Senevirathne (Retd.), High Commissioner of Sri Lanka. DHM Christy Ruban, Minister Counsellor Mrs. K.H.C. Sankpali, Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Members Zulqurnain Abbasi, Imran Minhas, Mirza Mohammad Ali, Ms. Fatima Azim, Ms. Shumaila Siddiqui, Chairman (PAEI) Khursheed Barlas, Chairman Inter-Regional Coordination Committee Kashif Zahir and other are also present.
