Representatives of more than 40 American companies, as well as about 30 companies from India and other parts of Asia met with Sri Lankan and U.S. government officials yesterday (Oct. 13) to launch a “Public-Private Partnership” to explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka.

With the aid of the office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Commerce Department, Sri Lanka is holding a “Public-Private Partnership” conference at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel from 13-15 Oct. The conference will coincide with the seventh round of talks regarding the Sri Lankan-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

The conference will feature a day-long trip to Trincomalee, the port city on Sri Lanka’s Eastern coast, which features a natural deep harbor. Trincomalee has been the focus of political reconciliation and economic development by Sri Lankan government.

During their visit, conference participants will meet with key officials of the Eastern Provincial Council and business leaders in the Trincomalee region.

The U.S. delegation to the conference will be led by Michael Delaney, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia. Delaney and officials from the U.S. Commerce Department and U.S. Embassy in Colombo played vital roles in bringing the conference together.

The Colombo conference is the first time that the U.S. government has organized a public-private partnership for business and investment.

Expanded U.S. investment will bolster the post-conflict reconciliation process. They are particularly keen to steer investment to the North and East, where the LTTE conflict took its greatest toll.

After defeating terrorism, leaders from some of the United States’ largest companies convened to examine Sri Lanka’s growth in internet technology and outsourcing, communications, manufacturing, tourism and other industries.