The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has stepped up efforts to expand bilateral trade and investment opportunities with China, facilitating discussions between Sri Lankan businesses and a visiting delegation from Yunnan Province.

The delegation, led by the Yunnan Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, met representatives of the Ceylon Chamber and its Sri Lanka–China Business Council on October 28 to explore potential commercial partnerships across a wide range of industries.

The discussions covered opportunities in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, dairy, food processing, industrial machinery, construction materials, IT, steel, tea, hospitality and logistics.

Ceylon Chamber Secretary General and CEO Shiran Fernando said the engagement came at a time when Sri Lanka was moving beyond economic stabilisation towards growth, with greater opportunities to expand trade and attract foreign investment.

The Sri Lanka–China Business Council highlighted the potential to diversify Sri Lanka’s export basket and broaden access to the Chinese market, noting that exports remain concentrated in a relatively small number of products.

The Yunnan delegation, headed by the Federation’s Executive Vice Chairman Pan Hongwei, also identified scope for cooperation in agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, gems and rubber-based products.

Yunnan’s position as China’s largest coffee-producing province was highlighted as a further opportunity for agricultural trade and related commercial partnerships.

The engagement provided businesses from both countries with an opportunity to exchange information on their products, capabilities and market interests, with a view to developing direct commercial relationships.

The initiative is part of the Ceylon Chamber’s efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s international business links, diversify export markets and attract investment through private-sector partnerships.