The India-Ceylon Economic Dialogue (ICED) will be held in Kochi in July. The business meet was devised following the visit of PM Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka.

The B2B dialogue is being supported by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Kerala Bureau of Industrial promotion. The aim of the meet is to do away with middlemen, allowing industrialists in India and Sri Lanka to deal directly with each other. This is akin to an independent business contract.

Kerala has selected five business sectors- rubber, tea, food products, perfumes and readymade garments- to focus on as part of expanding business relations with Sri Lanka. Products from each sector would be displayed when the meet is going on and the meet would also encourage one-to-one meetings of business representatives from both countries.

Businessmen from Kerala would be able to visit Sri Lanka and bring goods to sell in India. Thirty stalls are to be set up and the B2B dialogue would last for two days. Other south Indian states would also be involved and Tamil Nadu would hold a separate meet later.
(Manorama)