[Free] Port City Colombo: Asia's Newest Gateway to Global Markets

Event Details

The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmCham Singapore) and Port City Colombo are delighted to host a briefing on Port City Colombo (PCC), Sri Lanka's first foreign currency designated Special Economic Zone.

Special economic zones are continuing to grow in the region as a way to accelerate international trade and foreign direct investment to drive economic development. PCC is dedicated to the exports of modern services and offers a revolutionary incentive program: a 25-year tax exemption for "Businesses of Strategic Importance (BSI)" which eliminates corporate income tax, value-added tax (VAT), withholding tax (WHT), dividend tax, and custom duties as well as other border tariffs. Personal income tax for employees employed at PCC is also exempted.

During the session, you will learn about:

The positioning of PCC as a technology and innovation hub in the region, based on a collaborative model with similar ecosystems in Southeast Asia and globally
Key industry verticals that could take advantage of such incentives including trade & logistics services, technology services, business process outsourcing and management, knowledge process outsourcing, distributional hub concepts, and R&D centers (i.e. bio pharma, banking, financial services, insurance, fintech, artificial intelligence & machine learning, shipping & logistics, agritech labs)
An overview of the legal and regulatory framework
Trade and Investment opportunities at Port City Colombo

*The session will end with networking over light refreshments and wine/beer.

*Seats are limited, so will be based on a first come first serve basis.

Please note the following details:

The event is held under the Chatham House Rule https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/chatham-house-rule
Images from the event may be used for AmCham Singapore's post-event information, marketing and promotional purposes.
The personal information provided to us will only be used for event registration and administration.

By registering for this event, you agree and consent to the above.

* For any enquires please contact the AmCham Programming and Events Team at pe@amcham.com.sg.

Speakers

Jeevan Gnanam

CEO of Hatch

Radika Obeyesekere

Director Investment Promotions and Marketing of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd.

Hariharan Padmanaban

Director – Business Development (Technology Park) of CHEC Port City Colombo

Radika possesses over a decade of experience in Sri Lanka's private and development sectors specializing in the areas of commercial, legal, trade and investment facilitation. Radika has previously held the positions of CEO of The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID), Director Marketing for Dipped Products PLC (a part of the Hayleys Group), Executive Director of The American Chamber of Commerce (Sri Lanka) and Private Sector Development Analyst for the Sri Lanka Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank.

As Executive Director of AmCham, Radika was appointed to the Board of the Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (comprising of 28 AmChams in the Asia-Pacific region) as Regional Vice Chair for South and Central Asia.

Radika is a law graduate from the University of London and was called to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka as an Attorney at Law. She is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM - UK). She was awarded the "Women Leadership Achievement Award" by the World Women Leadership Congress in February 2016 and "Best Performance in Sri Lanka" by CIM UK in 2008.

Hariharan Padmanaban has had close to 18 years of hands-on experience in the global offshore services space to global corporations across a variety of verticals and Industry. He has been involved in imparting Offshore Knowledge to Clients, assisting them with their Risk Analysis and Measurement, Sales Strategy, Business Continuity and successfully setting up Operations in Sri Lanka for specified Clientele.

Some Key Highlights of his Global Services Engagements:

Areas of Work Experience has been in the AI / RPA and Technology space, development of a Client – Supplier Relationship Management Strategy, develop an end to end sales strategy and an active sales pipeline for entities based in Sri Lanka, ensure that the business is aligned with the goals developed in business plan, building a very rigorous Customer Relationship Management System, motivate the delivery and Operational teams with an overview on quality
and build the necessary skill accordingly, development of De-risking strategy across Asian Operations for an offshore operation, build Support, Operational Management, and transition of complex processes in a variety of verticals and transition planning to enhance offshore outsourcing value to Client.

Hari comes from Hyla Mobiles USA (Currently Assurant Global) where he played the role of Director Business Development for SE Asia and Africa. This role primarily entrusted him with full accountability from a business expansion into these regions over the last 2 years which has resulted in the organisation expanding into markets like Japan and India specifically in the Connected Living domain which primarily integrated Mobile / Home and Automobiles. Prior to this he has worked with GECIS India and a couple of other entities.

Hari also played an integral part in the setup of EY GDS Sri Lanka from a Consulting perspective. He joins EY GDS Sri Lanka as Director – Location Leader for EY GDS Sri Lanka. Hari holds an MBA from Birmingham City University UK and currently qualifying for a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL). Intends to commence his DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) shortly. He has also had the experience of living and growing up in West Africa.

Currently serves as Business Development Director for CHEC PORTCITY COLOMBO (PVT) LTD.

Sponsors and Partners

AmCham Member

Employees in member company and part of the membership roster

Member PriceComplimentary

Member Company

Employees in member company but not in the membership roster

Public PriceComplimentary

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MADGISSSRM

The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

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