World Trade Center Mumbai Hosts Sri Lankan Delegation to Strengthen Bilateral Trade

World Trade Center Mumbai, in association with the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), organised a business interaction with a visiting delegation from Sri Lanka to enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation. The programme focused on strengthening partnerships across multiple sectors and facilitating business-to-business engagement between companies from both countries.

The event aimed to promote commercial collaboration in sectors including textiles and apparel, handicrafts, lifestyle products, wellness industries, infrastructure, tourism, and IT services. The interaction enabled more than 300 B2B meetings between Indian and Sri Lankan enterprises, creating opportunities for cooperation, market access, and supply chain linkages.

Ms. Shirani Ariyarathne, Consul (commercial), Consulate General of Sri Lanka, said “India and Sri Lanka share a deep-rooted relationship that goes back millennia. We already have a Free Trade Agreement in goods, and we are now looking to expand cooperation through a Free Trade Agreement in services, which will further strengthen our economic integration. There are significant opportunities in tourism, textiles, automobiles, infrastructure development, and IT, and we are also exploring the further expansion of industrial zones to facilitate greater business engagement. With Sri Lanka offering preferential market access and a rapidly growing economy, the prospects for enhanced bilateral collaboration are extremely promising.”

Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries, said “Since the Free Trade Agreement, India and Sri Lanka have come a long way in strengthening their economic partnership. Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries has crossed USD 6 billion in FY 2024–25, and we expect this to double over the next five years. With nearly 4,000 products enjoying tariff concessions, there is significant scope to expand trade beyond traditional sectors. In this evolving geopolitical environment, strengthening regional partnerships is essential to ensure economic resilience and shared prosperity.”

“There is high potential for collaboration in sectors such as textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture and food processing, IT and digital services, renewable energy, and tourism. India remains one of the largest contributors to foreign direct Investment in Sri Lanka, reflecting strong business confidence and the long-term potential of the bilateral partnership. We are proud to be hosting our sixth delegation from Sri Lanka in the past six months, which reiterates the growing momentum in India–Sri Lanka engagement,” added Dr. Kalantri.

In the picture (L to R): Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade and Investment Promotion, World Trade Center, Mumbai; Ms. Shirani Ariyarathne, Consul and Minister, Consulate General of Sri Lanka; Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries; Mr. Santosh Kotre, Director, Finance Accounts and Admin, World Trade Center, Mumbai; Mrs. Mangala Madhuwanthi, Export Development Board Sri Lanka; Ms. Sangeeta Jain, Senior Director, All India Association of Industries; Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai.

In the picture (L to R): Ms. Priya Pansare, Director, Trade and Investment Promotion, World Trade Center, Mumbai; Ms. Shirani Ariyarathne, Consul and Minister, Consulate General of Sri Lanka; Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries; Mr. Santosh Kotre, Director, Finance Accounts and Admin, World Trade Center, Mumbai; Mrs. Mangala Madhuwanthi, Export Development Board Sri Lanka; Ms. Sangeeta Jain, Senior Director, All India Association of Industries; Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai.

Mrs. Mangala Madhuwanthi, Export Development Board Sri Lanka, said “The Sri Lanka Export Development Board plays a vital role in promoting the country’s export sector, with total exports exceeding USD 17.3 billion last year, including USD 13.6 billion in merchandise trade, these exports contribute nearly 19% to GDP. The delegation visiting today represents this diversity with companies from lifestyle, leather, wellness, renewable paper, handicrafts, and traditional batik products, and creative industry products showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich heritage and export capabilities”.

The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, World Trade Center Mumbai, who thanked the visiting delegation and participants for their contribution to discussions aimed at strengthening economic ties between India and Sri Lanka. He stated that collaboration between Indian and Sri Lankan enterprises can support access to wider regional markets by leveraging complementary strengths.