Packer, heads of Uganda, Burundi to address Commonwealth biz forum
Australian gaming baron James Packer and leaders from Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago and Burundi are among top dignitaries who will address the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) in November, the media was informed on Friday.
Peter Callaghan, Director General and CEO of the Commonwealth Business Council and Co-Chairman of the Sri Lanka organising committee of CBF, Mahendra Amarasuriya walking in for the media briefing. Pic by Susantha Liyanawatte.
Journalists were told that while heads of state from many commonwealth countries are expected to address the November 12-17 forum in Colombo, no confirmation has been received from leaders from countries like Britain, Canada and Australia.
Peter Callaghan, Director General and CEO of the Commonwealth Business Council told reporters that the CBF is a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to showcase its development, stability and peace to the world and would pave the way towards attracting around US $1 billion in Foreign Direct Investment to the country through contracts, business deals and joint ventures.
He revealed that more than 150 international, political and business personalities would be addressing the business meeting which runs alongside the Commonwealth Heads of State summit.
More than 1000 business personalities and others are expected to attend the forum
This, he said, is the biggest gathering of pre-eminent business people outside the World economic Forum at Davos with more heads of government involved than any other meeting with the private sector.
Co-chairman of the Sri Lanka organizing committee of CBF, Mahendra Amarasuriya and former Commercial Bank Chairman noted that top global businessmen like Rahul Bajaj, Lakshmi N Mittal, Binod Chaudhary, Nepal’s first billionaire and Mr. Packer are among the speakers.
Mr. Packer’s name has figured prominently in media in recent weeks over his planned investment in a mixed development project which includes a hotel and a casino.
Deputy Foreign Minister Neomal Perera revealed that delegates of non-Commonwealth countries including Russia, China and some South American countries would be among the participants. Over 100 delegates from 75 countries have so far confirmed their participation.
The CBF will be the largest gathering of international investors ever seen in Sri Lanka, he added.
| Chaos for the media
Media personnel were made to loiter for around one and half hours at a hurriedly and poorly organised media conference by the Foreign Ministry in Colombo to brief journalists on the CBF event. Journalists were asked to be present at the ministry at 9.15 am but even by that time there was no seating arrangements or microphone facilities being made to commence the media conference Some officials brought chairs on the directions of a female Assistant Director of the Ministry but she didn’t allow the journalists to seat in the front row saying it was for officials whereas not a single official of the ministry was present.Asked about the delay, the assistant Director said the CBF Director General was busy attending two other meetings. However she didn’t apologise for the delay. At around 10.45 am, CBF chief Peter Callaghan accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minster Neomal Perera and organizing committee co-chair Mahendra Amarasuriya arrived and held the briefing which lasted only 15 minutes. Mr. Perera however extended his apologies to journalists for the inconvenience. This kind of shoddy organization begs the question as to whether the Foreign Ministry is capable of organising a big event like the CBF and the Commonwealth summit when it cannot conduct a simple media conference. |
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