The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta organized an online Business Forum on 27th August 2020 in collaboration with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Hippindo, the Premier Retail Association in Indonesia.
The Forum was addressed by H.E. Ms. Yasoja Gunasekera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia; H.E. Mr. I Gusti Ngurah Ardiyasa, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka; Mr. Ajith D Perera, Secretary General and CEO of FCCISL and Mr.Budihardjo Iduansjah, President of Hippindo.
16 leading Sri Lankan companies participated in the event :
Imperial Tea; Mondte; Tikiri Toys (DSL); Rileys PVT Limited; Macksons Paint Industries Private Limited; D. Samson Industries (PVT) Ltd; Ceylon Tea Land (PVT) Ltd; Athukorala Group (PVT) Ltd; Silver and Stone; RDMD Textile (Private) Ltd; Orel Corporation; Ceylon Cold Stores (PLC); JAT Holdings (PVT) Ltd; Natures Beauty Creations Ltd; Brilliant Cuts (Pvt) Ltd; Bopitiya Auto Enterprises
Upon the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jakarta having received the information about which Sri Lankan leading brands were interested in participating in the event, the Embassy worked with the assistance from Hippindo to identify leading department stores, super markets and convenient stores in Indonesia to match them with. Organisations involved in export and import as well as distribution from Indonesia also participated in the event.
The Sri Lankan companies were given useful information by leading figures from Indonesia on how to enter the Indonesian market through a discussion panel that was addressed by Mr. Handaka Santosa, Director of Sogo Department Store Indonesia, Mrs. Meshvara Kanjaya, CEO of Ranch Market, an up-market super market, Mrs. Ria Monica, Managing Director of FamilyMart, a convenient store chain with Asian presence, amongst others.
Ambassador Yasoja Gunasekera noted in her remarks that the foreign policy of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be Asia centric and Sri Lanka hopes to strengthen and develop partnerships in our region, particularly when it comes to economic relations.
Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The total trade turn over between Sri Lanka and Indonesia in 2019 was US$ 467.64 million and the value of Sri Lanka’s exports to Indonesia in 2019 increased by 9.54%.
A number of Sri Lankan companies have invested in Indonesia including Hayleys, MAS, LOLC and Good Hope and leading Indonesian companies such as Kalbe Farma and Indofood now have a presence in Sri Lanka with more Indonesian companies increasingly looking to venture overseas.
Early relations between Sri Lanka and Indonesia were established through trade on the spice trade routes, also known as Maritime Silk Road. The two countries have been long standing trade partners. Sri Lanka and Indonesia share civilizational, cultural and religious ties and the bilateral relationship is strong and multifaceted.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Jakarta 28 August 2020
