Sri Lankan businesses are set to gain new opportunities to access the Italian market and establish international commercial partnerships following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Unioncamere, the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Handicraft and Agriculture.
The agreement establishes a framework for stronger engagement between the business communities of Sri Lanka and Italy, focusing on trade promotion, investment opportunities and business collaboration.
The signing took place at Unioncamere headquarters in Piazza Sallustio, Italy, with representatives from Unioncamere and the Italian diplomatic mission attending the ceremony. Representatives of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the Sri Lanka–Italy Business Council (SLITBC) and the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission joined virtually from Sri Lanka.
Unioncamere was represented by its President, Andrea Prete, and Internationalization Manager, Pietro Infante. Sri Lankan participants included Satya Rodrigo, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Italy; Dhawood Amanullan, Minister and Head of Chancellery at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Rome; Damiano Francovigh, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka; Shiran Fernando, Secretary General and CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; and Dushy Jayaweera, President of SLITBC. Daminda Mulgama, Immediate Past President of SLITBC, also joined virtually.
The agreement provides Sri Lankan companies with a direct institutional connection to Italy’s extensive chamber of commerce network. This is expected to create opportunities for businesses to identify potential partners, explore new markets and develop commercial relationships with Italian counterparts.
Key areas of cooperation include business delegations, business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking, knowledge exchange and the promotion of trade and investment. These initiatives could support Sri Lankan exporters seeking access to the Italian market while encouraging Italian businesses to explore commercial and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Italy remains an important trading partner for Sri Lanka. In 2025, Italy was Sri Lanka’s fifth-largest export destination, with exports reaching approximately US$679.77 million. Major exports include apparel, rubber products, seafood and tea, highlighting the potential for further expansion of trade between the two countries.
The agreement follows more than a year of engagement initiated by Daminda Mulgama, Immediate Past President of SLITBC, who pursued discussions with Unioncamere, including a visit to its headquarters in Italy.
Through the Sri Lanka–Italy Business Council, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will work towards translating this agreement into stronger business engagement, creating further opportunities for Sri Lankan companies to connect with Italian businesses and explore international markets.
Strengthening these institutional connections represents a positive step towards expanding Sri Lanka’s international trade relationships, encouraging cross-border business partnerships and creating new avenues for investment and economic cooperation.
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