JETRO Topics

ATPF CEO Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka

August 2015

Proposal to enhance network between trade promotion organizations and investment promotion agencies

Over the two-day period from August 25 (Tue) to 26 (Wed), the CEO Meeting for the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. With the participation of 17 trade promotion organizations from Asia and Oceania, the event was co-chaired by JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige and Bandula Egodage, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka.

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Meeting venue

JETRO Chairman and CEO Ishige made a presentation on the approach of investment promotion by trade promotion organizations (TPOs) and said, “Given progress in the development of global value chains by companies, it is necessary for TPOs to actively work not only in support of trade but also in support of overseas investment as an extension of export”. In his presentation, it was proposed to have a regular investment session at the CEO Meeting starting from next time.

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Speech by JETRO Chairman Ishige

In addition, approval was given for the establishment of the Supplier Matching Support Scheme, which aims to support global procurement by companies, as well as the ATPF Information Desk, which will provide direct responses to company inquiries by staff of ATPF member organizations.

On August 24, prior to the CEO meeting, Chairman and CEO Ishige met with Minister Risad Bathiutheen of Industry and Commerce; Deputy Minister Harsha de Silva of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs; and Deputy Minister Eran Wickramaratne of Investment Promotions and Highways of Sri Lanka, where he exchanged opinions on world economic conditions with the officials.

The ATPF was established in 1987 at the proposal of JETRO and currently has 24 member trade promotion organizations. The objective of the forum is to enhance trade in the region through information exchange, implementation of cooperative projects and strengthening networks among ATPF members. CEO Meetings and Working Level Meetings are held once a year. The next ATPF CEO Meeting is scheduled to be held in Lahore, Pakistan in 2016.

Outline
Theme “Integrating Asia with Global Value Chain”
Date August 25-26, 2015
Venue Colombo, Sri Lanka
Organizer Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB)
Participated organizations Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)
Directorate General of National Export Development (DGNED), Indonesia
Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Thailand
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal
Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)
Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM)
India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA)
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)
Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI)
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB)
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP)
Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC)
Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE)