Cablegate: Sri Lanka: Us Trade Mission a Success

VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #2106 3541223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201223Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4988
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0398
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9719
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6655
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4715
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2085
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7219

UNCLAS COLOMBO 002106

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

BFIF FOR DENNIS WINSTEAD

STATE FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI EAID CE

SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: US TRADE MISSION A SUCCESS

REF: STATE 192740

1. (SBU) Summary: The extended business outreach project involving
four US companies to Sri Lanka, who were part of a major US trade
delegation to India, was successfully concluded with the
participating companies reporting encouraging prospects. Post would
like to acknowledge the efforts and timely action taken by staff of
EB/CBA to provide funding and valuable support which greatly
contributed to the effective implementation of this program. End
Summary

2. (U) Following are details of expenditure incurred for the
outreach program:
Meeting room hire for briefings by Post officials and Department of
Commerce presentation: $100.00
Meeting rooms for individual meetings with local companies: $200.00
Total: $300.00

3. (U) The December 6-7 outreach program to Sri Lanka comprised
four companies: Lockheed Martin, GE Water Systems/Healthcare, GE
Power Systems, and Business & Strategic Consultants Incorporation
Inc (BSCII). The initial day was aimed at providing the companies an
overview on the economic and investment climate and current
political situation in the country. Ambassador Blake and Econoff
provided an extensive briefing on these sectors and offered valuable
advice on doing business in/with Sri Lanka. The Executive Director
of the Board of Investment (BOI) outlined the opportunities for
investment in Sri Lanka with emphasis on areas of interest for US
companies and the advantages and incentives of the Indo/Sri Lanka
FTA for companies looking to penetrate the Indian market. A luncheon
meeting with officials of Chevron, Price Waterhouse and the USAID
Competitiveness program provided the participants an opportunity to
be briefed on the private sector outlook of the economy and
investment climate in the country and the prospects and challenges
for companies investing and doing business with Sri Lanka. The
representatives of these organizations pledged their support to the
US companies in terms of providing advice and guidance in investing
in Sri Lanka and entering into the local market. The Department of
Commerce (DOC) provided a detailed presentation on the Indo/Lanka
FTA to the participants.

4. (SBU) Individual meetings were scheduled for Lockheed and BSCII.
These companies met with some of the leading private sector
companies in Sri Lanka including the country's premier blue chip
company, John Keells Holdings. Follow-up meetings were arranged to
further discuss partnerships and business prospects for Sri Lanka.
Additionally, the Lockheed Representative met with the Managing
Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Director of the
Civil Aviation Authority to discuss possible use of Lockheed vessel
tracking and aviation technology in the country. The GE
Water/Healthcare representative participated in the first day of the
program and discussed possibilities for health and water
technologies with the BOI officials. The GE Energy representative
arrived from India to meet with their partners in the proposed power
project in the country. The GE Energy representative informed
Emboff that one of his major reasons for his brief participation in
the outreach program was to extend his appreciation to the efforts
by Embassy to advocate a power project with GE participation, which
is close to final approval by the GSL.

5. (SBU) Comment: Lockheed and BSCII report that their participation
in the business outreach program to Sri Lanka has generated
significant opportunities for entry into the Sri Lankan market. The
SLPA is willing to consider the offer of vessel tracking management
systems from Lockheed while BSCII has received encouraging responses
from local companies interested in partnering with the firm. GE
Water and Health Care will continue pursuing opportunities in the
water and health sectors, which are high priority areas for the GSL.
GE Energy will closely follow the combined cycle power project and
will be interested in generating opportunities in the hydro power
sector thereafter. Post will provide follow-up assistance to
facilitate collaborations and business opportunities for all
companies that participated in the program.

BLAKE

© Scoop Media