Top US Businessmen meet President in NY
September 26, 2010 12:17 pm
While on his official visit to New York City
for the United Nations General Assembly, President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with
leading American business leaders at a luncheon to outline emerging
opportunities for investment in Sri
Lanka.
Business executives from a variety of industries, including the
aerospace and defense community, the hospitality and tourism industry, and
beverage industry attended the luncheon held at New York City’s Helmsley Hotel. Executives
from the Coca Cola Co., the Boeing Co., Google, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and
Starwood Hotels & Resorts were among the nearly 100 Business Leaders,
Analysts, representatives of Chambers of Commerce and Industry present at the
occasion.
President Rajapaksa mingled with the American Business leaders meeting and greeting each person individually and requesting them to focus new interest in Sri Lanka as an investment opportunity.
Members of the US
business community shared the view of a key representative of the
pharmaceutical industry giant Pfizer Inc., that “This forum has the potential
to grow into a US-Sri Lanka business council to bring together companies and
government.” “Companies like Pfizer want to invest in emerging markets like Sri Lanka,”
the Pfizer representative said, noting that the business luncheon allowed
corporate executives to meet government officials and Sri Lankan business
leaders. “It is a great way to start a dialogue,” he said.
The Keynote Speech by Prof. GL Peiris, Minister of External
Affairs Sri Lanka, said Sri
Lanka boasts an economy with strong
fundamentals - a market poised for continued growth and international
investment. Noting the nation’s promising economic future, Prof. Peiris said “Sri Lanka
is today, without any exaggeration, one of the world’s best destinations for
investment.... We are on the threshold of an economic renaissance in Sri Lanka.’’
The US Business Leaders were also able to interact with the 15
member Sri Lankan Business Delegation that was also present in New York.
(Courtesy : The Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka)