Business
Products of Sri Lankan SMEs ‘enthrall and fascinate’ Vietnamese in Ha Noi
The embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam, in close coordination and collaboration with the Industrial Development Board (IDB), organized a “Sri Lankan Fair” to promote, project and profile the products of SME entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka to the vast middle-income market consisting of the total 100 million population of Viet Nam. The two-day Sri Lankan fair was attended by a large number of Vietnamese nationals, foreign nationals based in Ha Noi, senior government and corporate personalities, media and, of course, the diplomatic corps consisting of a number of ambassadors based in Ha Noi, among others. The Sri Lankan Fair was held at the Chancery of the embassy of Sri Lanka.
It consisted of nearly 10 SME companies ranging from wooden and ornamental products, traditional Sri Lankan masks and paintings, batik and handmade garments, decorative household items, hand-made silver jewelry and gemstones, soft toys, exclusive wooden carvings, herbal tea and spices and brassware, amongst others. The two-day event was enriched by serving and selling authentic and traditional Sri Lankan food, which were prepared at the premises itself as well as serving traditional hallmark Sri Lanakan tea by the Dilma based in Ha Noi.
At the auspicious opening ceremony of the Sri Lankan Fair, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Ha Noi, Prof A. Saj U. Mendis, in his opening remarks stated that the SMEs are often described and considered as a backbone of any given economy, be it developed, developing or least developed. He further added that these sentiments were true in the context of Sri Lanka as well. Prof Mendis stated that in both developed and developing nations, SME sector contributes approximately 50% of the GDP and employs over 60% of the working population. He added that the primary economic pivot of any given nation was to intensely focus on fostering, nurturing and facilitating the SMEs, thus enabling them to advance to become mid-sized companies to large companies to national corporates to regional players to multinational corporates respectively.
This should be the fundamental vision of any SMEs as well as of any nation vis-à-vis SMEs. Ambassador Mendis added, in his opening remarks, that today some of the largest corporates of the world such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Google had most humble beginnings often in college dorms and garages. The Director of Department of Industry and Trade also addressed the opening ceremony and stated that the Department in Viet Nam would support, cooperate and assist the SME entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka as well as expressed optimistic and encouraging sentiments. Minister Commercial of the Embassy, Ms. Kishani Wickramasinghe, played a pivotal and instrumental role in organizing the entire Sri Lankan Fair with great success and efficacy.
Over 15 Sri Lankan SME entrepreneurs who visited Ha Noi were enabled to visit and interact with the Bat Trang ceramic pottery village, wood craft village and Viet Nam Association of Gemstones in order to forge long-term business and commercial relations, thus enabling to export the Sri Lankan products to Viet Nam. Further, the embassy organized a number of B2B meetings for the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs/SMEs to promote their respective commercial entities.
Viet Nam is unique in the context of fostering and evolving the SME sector, given the seminal nature and significance of it for economic and commercial advancement of the country, and has 17 FTAs and partnership agreements with over 70 select countries, thus accommodating the SMEs of Viet Nam to export their products with ease at competitive prices. Needless to state, most Vietnamese nationals and others were highly impressed and were captivated by the authentic and artistic products of Sri Lanka, mainly gems and jewelry, handicraft, exclusive batik products and wood carvings, among others. Most of the SME entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka initiated and entered into commercial arrangements with Vietnamese counterpart companies. This particular commercial initiative did enhance and aggrandize the profile and image of the country among the Vietnamese and other foreign nationals in Ha Noi.
(Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam)
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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