The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has established formal partnerships with business organisations in Qatar and Lebanon through Memoranda of Understanding, aiming to deepen commercial ties and create investment opportunities for Sri Lankan enterprises.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has formalised its international business connections through two separate agreements signed this week with counterpart organisations in the Middle East. One MoU was executed with the Qatar Sri Lanka Business Council at the Ceylon Chamber's premises, while a second agreement with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon was signed remotely.

The timing of the Qatar agreement is significant, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar. According to Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber, the partnerships are designed to strengthen connections between business communities in both regions and create avenues for expanded trade and investment. B.A.W.C. Gunasekara, Secretary of the QSLBC, expressed similar sentiments regarding the potential to enhance commercial relations between the two nations.

The Lebanese agreement was formalised with the participation of Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Lebanon, Anura Withanage. Mohamed Choucair, Chairman of the CCIA-BML, highlighted the opportunities for closer cooperation between the two chambers and enhanced business engagement between Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

Both agreements establish a framework for the participating organisations to exchange business information, facilitate introductions between enterprises in their respective markets, and identify joint opportunities for trade and investment cooperation. These arrangements expand the Ceylon Chamber's existing network of international business partnerships, supporting Sri Lankan companies seeking to access overseas markets and attract foreign investment.