Sri Lanka-Nepal:

Business leaders share experiences

Representatives from the Business for Peace Alliance, BPA, Sri Lanka’s network of regional business chambers committed to regional empowerment, national unity and CSR participated in an exchange programme with business leaders engaged in fostering in economic growth, peace and stability in Nepal.

The delegation from Sri Lanka was hosted in Nepal by The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), National Business Initiatives (NBI) Nepal, Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Nepal (FWEAN), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), with support from GTZ and International Alert.

The exchange programme centred around the theme: “Equitable economic growth, peace and stability” and examined the potentials, roles and strengths of the private sector in inclusive economic development for peace building.

In addition to the representatives from BPA, the Sri Lankan delegation also included a representative from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and a Youth and labour specialist.

The programme aimed to facilitate regional experience sharing and stimulate discussions on the private sector’s potentials and roles in economic development for sustainable peacebuilding. The exchange programme also attempted to establish networks and build solidarity at a regional level between Sri Lanka and Nepal.

In addition to meetings with business leaders in Nepal, meetings also took place with key Government Officials including Nepal’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Gopal Shakya.

A series of informal interactions and workshops took place in Biratnagar and Kathmandu. During these workshops and interactions, various impacts of conflict on business were discussed, such as extortions, abductions, and threats as well as decline in investment opportunities and strained industrial relations.