A  special discussion pertaining to this programme between the Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa and  Dr. Masato Abe , Representative on Economic Affairs of the United Nations  Economic and  Socio Commission for Asia and the Pacific , took place recently at the Ministry of Economic Development.

11th.Promotiona lProgramme of  the Asian Pacific Trade Forum is to be conducted in Colombo during the period from 24th. to 27th. November, 2014. According to Dr. Masato Abe, Representative on Economic Affairs of the United Nations  Economic and  Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific , the main objective of this programme is to act as a forum to promote sustainable  trading activities among the member countries. He further emphasized  that this  is the research programme of Asian Pacific Trade Forum conducted for the first time in the  South East Asia. The objective of this forum is to build up a strong  marketing facility for trade promotion in governmental and non governmental organizations in the Asian Pacific region.  

The Forum has 53 member countries  which  includes 09 countries with emerging economies.  This programme is fully sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and  jointly organized by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka. A host of state officials including  Bhaswara Senanka, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority  were present at this discussion..(KH)