Message from the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs

I am pleased to send this message on the occasion of the holding of the 8th SAARC Trade Fair in Colombo, 28th to 31st August 2008.

The SAARC Trade Fair has indeed become an important vehicle for promoting Intra - SAARC trade, which has enormous potential for mutual benefit.   Trade promotion is a key means of strengthening collective self-reliance in the region, thereby contributing to the realization of the main goal of the Association to accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states through joint cooperation.

The theme of this years’ event “Regional opportunities for global growth” is indeed timely, as South Asia moves forward to raise its profile in the global economy. 
    

In so doing, our approach will be to widen our horizons and reach out to other partners whose involvement would make SAARC more meaningful and productive in our journey towards greater economic progress and prosperity.   We must also be mindful that new technological developments incorporating rapid communication, provide the foundation for increased interaction and networking which will intensify business opportunities.

I commend the organizers, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka, for their excellent efforts and extend my best wishes for the success of the 8th SAARC Trade Fair in Colombo
     

Message from the Hon. Minister of Export Development & International Trade
 

Sri Lanka is proud to host the 8th SAARC Trade Fair scheduled to be held in Colombo from 28 - 31 August 2008 and on this occasion, it’s my pleasure to send this message.
 
The theme of this years’ fair which is ‘Regional opportunities for global growth’ is most appropriate for our times and the opportunities open up at this fair will also enhance the SAARC contribution in global growth.

In the early 90s, it was Sri Lanka which proposed to initiate negotiations among SAARC countries to conclude Preferential Trading Arrangements and Sri Lanka also submitted the first draft of SAPTA for the consideration of the member countries. As a member country which took some pioneering steps we are delighted that endeavours and concerted efforts of all SAARC countries have now blossomed in to fully-fledged FTA.

This is a sub-continent consisting of a population of more than 1.2 billion with an estimated middle class exceeding 300 million and continuing to grow rapidly. A fair of this nature which will showcase the potential of South Asia will and provide further impetus to proliferate more intra regional opportunities.

While congratulating FCCISL, the organizers of this fair for their excellent arrangements, I convey my best wishes to the participants and the visitors with the hope that results of the 8th SAARC Trade Fair will contribute to a better tomorrow for the SAARC citizens.

Message from the President of FCCISL
 

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of
Sri Lanka is indeed privileged to organise the 8th SAARC Trade Fair 2008 which will be held at the BMICH, Colombo from August 28 – 31, 2008. FCCISL has perhaps been entrusted with this task on account of the organizational skills that it had demonstrated in handling a similar event of magnitude and importance way back in 1998. Since that time the FCCISL has considerably strengthened its resource base and are today better equipped to undertake this task.

We are also extremely happy about the fact that it is the Government of Sri Lanka that handed over the organization of the 8th SAARC Trade Fair to FCCISL and we are determined to prove that we will live up to high expectations of the state in this regard.