The first seminar, featuring the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Michael Delaney, will take place in Colombo on October 15. Subsequent seminars will be held in Galle (October 18), Kandy (October 20) and Trincomalee (October 21).

The 'Doing Business' road show will begin immediately after the high-level bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Talks, which are being held in Colombo on October 14.

The improved business climate in Sri Lanka following the end of the war and the opening up of the North and East for trade and investment make this an opportune time for business men and women to learn more about increasing trade between the United States and Sri Lanka, the US Embassy in Colombo said.

According to Ken Kero-Mentz, the Commercial Director at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, this is the first Embassy 'Doing Business' seminar that will visit some of the key provinces outside of Colombo. It will give out valuable information to help expand rural economies and assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

The seminar series will include in-depth presentations by officials from the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Sri Lanka's Export Development Board will introduce the sessions. Each seminar will conclude with a discussion led by a Board member from the American Chamber of Commerce and leaders of the local business chambers, the US Embassy said.

Speakers at this seminar will talk about partnering and doing business with U.S. companies and increasing competitiveness in the global economy. Speakers will also discuss Sri Lanka's export sector, buying American products as a way to grow Sri Lanka's economy, and the growing importance of SME's in the global financial system.

The Embassy said the U.S. technology and knowledge can help Sri Lanka's companies compete effectively in the today's challenging international markets.

The Doing Business seminar is expected to attract importers, businesspeople, members of trade associations, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs interested in learning more about how doing business with the United States can help their bottom line.