Sri Lanka Economic Summit to discuss need for Smarter Trade Strategy

June 27, 2017 (LBO) - ‘Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2017’ will dig deeper into the island's trade reform agenda anchored towards new preferential trade pacts, tariff liberalization and export promotion, with the participation of experts representing both local and international trade bodies. A thematic session titled ‘Executing a Smarter Trade Strategy Amidst Turbulence’ will have a panel share their views and recommendations on trade strategy and the direction it should take. The session will kick off with presentations by Dr.

Ganeshan Wignaraja, chair of the Global Economy Programme of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies and Dr. Harsha Vardhana Singh, executive director of Brookings India, a policy research body. The presentations would be followed by a panel discussion, with the participation of Economist Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, deputy director of the Institute of Policy Studies and Elizabeth Ward, special negotiator, Office of Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs and trade of Australia with Anushka Wijesinha, chief Economist of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce moderating the session.

The session will discuss whether the anti-globalization rhetoric is a real threat, what is the smarter way for Sri Lanka to plan out its forward march towards liberalization and trade integration and how can Sri Lanka latch on to the growth in Asia, using ASEAN as a pivot. The Summit organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will take place on the 25 and 26 July, 2017 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.