North-South traders, investors meet

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and the Jaffna Traders Association met for the first time in Jaffna on Friday in order to enhance the trading and investment activities in the war-torn North.

"The meeting between the traders and investors of the North and the South is significant as President Mahinda Rajapaksa is determined to rebuild Jaffna with extensive investments, agricultural and trading activities." Minister of Industrial Development Kumara Welgama who presided over the meeting between the North-South traders said. A 42 member delegation of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce comprising traders, investors, industrialists and bankers from the South is currently in Jaffna exploring ways and means of bridging business and industrial communities of the North and the South.

The Jaffna Traders Association represented by a 60 member delegation engaged in the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce members at the office building of the Jaffna Traders Association.

Minister Welgama speaking at the event said that President Rajapaksa was very keen that the development activities in the North should be commenced without leaving room for any discrimination.

The Minister also assured that the government would provide its fullest cooperation to investors and traders in their efforts in rebuilding Jaffna.

The delegation of traders and investors also visited several sites to explore possibilities of making investments for their industrial and trading activities.

They also met academics and students of the university of Jaffna and members of the Jaffna Civil Society. The North-South traders unanimously agreed on the need for expanding commercial transportation via the A-9 highway and urged the Industrial Development Minister to expedite the process of allowing more interaction between the North and the South.

Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce Secretary, E. M. W. Wijetillake and the Jaffna Traders Association President, M. Janak Kumar conducted the meeting where it was agreed to have follow up action with regard to trading and investment activities between the North and the South.

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