VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #2106 3541223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201223Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4988
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0398
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9719
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6655
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4715
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2085
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7219

UNCLAS COLOMBO 002106 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS 
 
BFIF FOR DENNIS WINSTEAD 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI EAID CE
 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: US TRADE MISSION A SUCCESS 
 
REF: STATE 192740 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: The extended business outreach project involving 
four US companies to Sri Lanka, who were part of a major US trade 
delegation to India, was successfully concluded with the 
participating companies reporting encouraging prospects.  Post would 
like to acknowledge the efforts and timely action taken by staff of 
EB/CBA to provide funding and valuable support which greatly 
contributed to the effective implementation of this program. End 
Summary 
 
¶2.  (U) Following are details of expenditure incurred for the 
outreach program: 
Meeting room hire for briefings by Post officials and Department of 
Commerce presentation: $100.00 
Meeting rooms for individual meetings with local companies: $200.00 
Total: $300.00 
 
¶3.  (U) The December 6-7 outreach program to Sri Lanka comprised 
four companies:  Lockheed Martin, GE Water Systems/Healthcare, GE 
Power Systems, and Business & Strategic Consultants Incorporation 
Inc (BSCII). The initial day was aimed at providing the companies an 
overview on the economic and investment climate and current 
political situation in the country. Ambassador Blake and Econoff 
provided an extensive briefing on these sectors and offered valuable 
advice on doing business in/with Sri Lanka. The Executive Director 
of the Board of Investment (BOI) outlined the opportunities for 
investment in Sri Lanka with emphasis on areas of interest for US 
companies and the advantages and incentives of the Indo/Sri Lanka 
FTA for companies looking to penetrate the Indian market. A luncheon 
meeting with officials of Chevron, Price Waterhouse and the USAID 
Competitiveness program provided the participants an opportunity to 
be briefed on the private sector outlook of the economy and 
investment climate in the country and the prospects and challenges 
for companies investing and doing business with Sri Lanka. The 
representatives of these organizations pledged their support to the 
US companies in terms of providing advice and guidance in investing 
in Sri Lanka and entering into the local market.  The Department of 
Commerce (DOC) provided a detailed presentation on the Indo/Lanka 
FTA to the participants. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Individual meetings were scheduled for Lockheed and BSCII. 
 These companies met with some of the leading private sector 
companies in Sri Lanka including the country's premier blue chip 
company, John Keells Holdings. Follow-up meetings were arranged to 
further discuss partnerships and business prospects for Sri Lanka. 
Additionally, the Lockheed Representative met with the Managing 
Director of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Director of the 
Civil Aviation Authority to discuss possible use of Lockheed vessel 
tracking and aviation technology in the country.  The GE 
Water/Healthcare representative participated in the first day of the 
program and discussed possibilities for health and water 
technologies with the BOI officials.  The GE Energy representative 
arrived from India to meet with their partners in the proposed power 
project in the country.  The GE Energy representative informed 
Emboff that one of his major reasons for his brief participation in 
the outreach program was to extend his appreciation to the efforts 
by Embassy to advocate a power project with GE participation, which 
is close to final approval by the GSL. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment: Lockheed and BSCII report that their participation 
in the business outreach program to Sri Lanka has generated 
significant opportunities for entry into the Sri Lankan market.  The 
SLPA is willing to consider the offer of vessel tracking management 
systems from Lockheed while BSCII has received encouraging responses 
from local companies interested in partnering with the firm.  GE 
Water and Health Care will continue pursuing opportunities in the 
water and health sectors, which are high priority areas for the GSL. 
 GE Energy will closely follow the combined cycle power project and 
will be interested in generating opportunities in the hydro power 
sector thereafter.  Post will provide follow-up assistance to 
facilitate collaborations and business opportunities for all 
companies that participated in the program. 
 
BLAKE