A business meeting between a delegation from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) was successfully held on 06th May 2026 at the EDB premises in Colombo, reaffirming the longstanding economic and trade relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The meeting was led by Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, and attended by Muhammad Raza, Senior Vice President of KCCI, along with members of the Pakistani delegation, senior EDB officials, and representatives from Sri Lanka’s business community.
Also present at the discussions were Tilan M. Wijesooriya, Acting Secretary General of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Associate Director of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Welcoming the delegation, Mangala Wijesinghe highlighted the longstanding friendship and growing economic partnership between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He also emphasised the significance of the Sri Lanka–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement signed in 2005, which marked Pakistan’s first bilateral Free Trade Agreement and continues to play a vital role in strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
During the discussions, both sides explored opportunities to further expand bilateral trade through stronger private sector collaboration, improved trade facilitation, greater utilisation of the Free Trade Agreement framework, and enhanced business-to-business engagement.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing confidence in further strengthening long-term trade and economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Maldives Declares Itself Open, Ambitious, and Ready for Global Partnerships
At the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Forum held in Colombo on Tuesday (5), Mohamed Saeed noted that the Maldives currently records a trade deficit of over USD 166 million with Sri Lanka. He said that while this reflects the strong presence of Sri Lankan goods in the Maldivian market, it also presents an opportunity to further strengthen and rebalance the partnership through expanded two-way trade, targeted investments, and high-impact joint ventures.
He highlighted that global economic shifts are being shaped by three key trends identified in international reports. The first is the reconfiguration of global supply chains, where businesses are prioritising reliability, resilience, and regional proximity. In this context, he said Sri Lanka and the Maldives have a clear opportunity to build an integrated regional value chain, particularly in fisheries processing, light manufacturing, and logistics, strengthening their position in the global economy.
The second trend is digital transformation, with rapid advancements in fintech, e-commerce, and smart logistics reshaping economic activity. He noted that the Maldives is investing in digital infrastructure and expressed interest in partnering with Sri Lankan technology firms and innovators to develop a digitally enabled island economy.
The third area is sustainability and climate resilience. As two frontline nations vulnerable to climate change, he said both countries are well positioned to collaborate in renewable energy, sustainable tourism, waste management, and blue economy initiatives—sectors that could also unlock access to green finance and global partnerships.
He emphasised that the forum is focused on action rather than discussion, aiming to identify viable business opportunities and strengthen investment flows.
Concluding his remarks, he stated that the Maldives is “open, ambitious and ready to partner,” adding that the time has come to build on existing foundations and drive forward cooperation led by government vision and private sector dynamism.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan Deepen Trade Ties Through Enhanced Business Engagement
