📈 CanCham SL Unveils Strategy to Boost Canada-Sri Lanka Trade and Indo-Pacific Ties

The newly formed Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (CanCham SL), established on 31 December 2025, has launched a strategic initiative to position Sri Lanka as a regional gateway for Canadian trade, investment, and Indo-Pacific engagement. • Bilateral Trade Figures: Total merchandise trade between Sri Lanka and Canada stood at US$ 606 Mn in 2024 (moderated from 2023 due to global conditions). Sri Lankan exports to Canada reached US$ 91.44 Mn, heavily driven by apparel & textiles and rubber-based products, while imports from Canada recorded US$ 102.4 Mn. • Strategic Objectives: Partnering with a network of 21 Canadian chambers across the Indo-Pacific, CanCham SL aims to leverage Canada's regional policy. The Indo-Pacific is projected to account for over 50% of global GDP by 2040. The chamber aims to engage the ~500,000 Sri Lankan diaspora in Canada to support national economic revival. • Priority Sectors & Resources: The chamber identified 14 priority sectors across innovation, sustainable infrastructure, and human capital—including ICT/BPM (IT, AI, fintech), renewable energy, and agriculture (agritech, food processing). It also highlighted opportunities in Sri Lanka's mineral resources (graphite and grid/battery-related titanium), sustainable tourism, and Port City incentives. • Future Roadmap: CanCham SL is developing a 5-year strategic development roadmap with public and private stakeholders. It currently has over 30 corporate members and operates a dedicated facilitation desk in Colombo to assist with market intelligence and investment support.