• 3.03.2023 - 13:03

Press Release

Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Turkiye meets the President of Ankara Chamber of Industry

The meeting took place in Ankara Chamber of Industry, with the participation of S. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, Mr. Seyit Ardıç, President of Ankara Chamber of Industry and Mr. Yavuz Cabbar, Secretary General of Ankara Chamber of Industry on 1st March 2023.

It was noted that both the Ambassador and the President of the Ankara Chamber of Industry assumed duties in their respective positions in Ankara almost at the same time.

Secretary General Mr. Cabbar briefed the Ambassador on the profiles of the Chamber’s members and highlighted that the strong industries of the Ankara Chamber are defense, mining, construction, household electrical appliances, and electricity distribution equipment and medical equipment including sophisticated robots used in surgeries.

Ambassador thanked the President for the meetings and extended deepest condolences for the deceased ones in the recent earthquakes took place in the southern part of Türkiye which claimed the lives of more than 45 thousand people as of 01 March 2023.

She said that although Sri Lanka has been going through a difficult period, there have been contributions from Sri Lanka such as tea and winter clothing donations to the victims and also offered a UN trained disaster response team to assist in search and rescue operations.

President, Mr. Ardıç thanked the Ambassador and the Government of Sri Lanka for the support and also taking the lead to coordinate a donation from the diplomatic corps in Ankara to the Türkiye Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD).

Ambassador spoke about opportunities for manufacturing industries in Sri Lanka for which most raw materials can be sourced in Sri Lanka, particularly minerals, fish and agricultural products, traditional export products, modern export products and services, skilled and trained human resources, incentives for investment, bilateral agreements and MoUs with Turkey that would facilitate bilateral economic cooperation, the foreign investments already in Sri Lanka, particularly from Turkiye. She also added that how value addition in Sri Lanka could make certain products eligible for reduced tariffs to enter into specific markets using various tared arrangements Sri Lanka has with countries particularly in South Asia.

Among traditional products she highlighted the significance of gems and cinnamon, of which the history of global trade goes back over 2 millennia. Among modern products and service she highlighted industries based on rubber, apparel industry, tea, ceramic and porcelain, handloom and fabric-based household items and toys, ports and shipping services, IT services, tourism sector related services, and so forth. She also explained how such a small country is blessed with much of diverse natural resources based on geological legacy of the country.

It was also highlighted Sri Lanka’s expertise in Ayurvedic healthcare facilities that provide a range of treatments for effective long management of terminal illnesses according to the western medical systems, over and above therapies for wellness and cosmetic benefits. Ayurvedic medicine also helped the Sri Lankans to manage some of the symptoms of COVID-19 better.

Ambassador also added that the country having committed in its National Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2021, that Sri Lanka is committed to generate 70% of its power needs from renewable energy sources by 2030, being a tropical country with much sunshine and wind, and also presence of highly pure graphite, from which graphene is manufactured, investments in the renewable energy sector are much welcomed.

President, Mr. Ardıç showed interest in gem mining and glass industry, and renewable energy. He was enthusiastic about future collaborations and exchanges of delegations and in organizing information sharing sessions also in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Colombo.

 

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Ankara

01 March 2023