India (Commonwealth Union)_ As part of his ongoing dialogues with prominent figures from the Indian private sector, Milinda Moragoda, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, had a productive meeting in New Delhi with Subhrakant Panda, the President of The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Subhrakant Panda, who also holds the position of Managing Director at Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFA), India’s leading fully integrated manufacturer of value-added ferro chrome, engaged in productive discussions with High Commissioner Moragoda.
During their meeting, Panda and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner delved into various matters concerning potential collaborations between FICCI, Sri Lankan Trade Chambers, and the Sri Lanka High Commission. Further, High Commissioner Moragoda provided Panda with an update on the support rendered by the Indian Government during the recent economic crisis, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s current state of preparedness to welcome substantial investments from India.
Panda offered valuable insights into FICCI’s 96-year illustrious history, highlighting its extensive network that includes not only India’s major corporations but also small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Recognizing the importance of targeted sector-specific investments and aspiring for deeper integration with the Indian economy, both parties agreed to engage with Sri Lankan trade chambers and the High Commission to further advance this initiative. The meeting was attended by Sallesh Pathak, Secretary General of FICCI, and Dr. Gunveena Chadda, Assistant Secretary General of FICCI. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner was accompanied by Sarath Godankanda, Minister Counsellor, and Geshan Dissanayake, First Secretary (Commercial).
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) is a non-government trade association and advocacy organization based in India. On the advice of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian industrialists G.D. Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas founded the company in 1927. It is the oldest, largest, and preeminent business organization in India. It is also a non-profit, non-governmental organization. FICCI derives its membership from the private and public corporate sectors, including SMEs and MNCs. There are over 250,000 indirect members of the chamber through regional chambers of commerce. It engages in sector-specific business development, marketing, and networking. Currently, its headquarters are in New Delhi, the nation’s capital, and it has a presence in 12 Indian states and 8 nations worldwide.
