Ambassador Chaminda Colonne lays strong foundation for strengthening relations with ApexBrasil

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Brazil, C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne, recently held fruitful discussions at the ApexBrasil headquarters in Brasília, laying a firm foundation to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economic, trade, and investment relations with Brazil. The meeting was held with Executive Director Maria Paula Sobral Velloso and General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Head of the India Office in New Delhi, Angelo Mauricio, of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

The ApexBrasil representatives warmly welcomed Ambassador Colonne and provided an overview of the agency’s role and ongoing initiatives in promoting Brazil’s foreign trade and attracting investment. They also highlighted ApexBrasil’s strategic priorities and efforts to strengthen international partnerships.

Ambassador Colonne emphasized Sri Lanka’s strong interest in advancing South-South cooperation and highlighted recent bilateral engagements, including the meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, as well as the successful conclusion of the second Sri Lanka–Brazil Political Consultations at Foreign Secretary level in Colombo.

Presentations were also made on the upcoming “Sri Lanka Expo,” scheduled to be held from 14–17 January 2027, and on the Colombo Port City project. Ambassador Colonne extended an invitation to ApexBrasil to lead a high-profile business delegation to the Expo, which was warmly accepted. The initiative aims to foster greater business engagement, explore new market opportunities, promote joint ventures and partnerships in complementary industries, and facilitate the exchange of technical expertise in high-performing sectors.

Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America, ranks among the world’s top 10 economies. ApexBrasil was established in 2003 during the first term of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to expand Brazil’s presence in the global economy by promoting exports, supporting the internationalization of companies, attracting foreign investment, and fostering partnerships across public and private sectors. The agency supports businesses across 53 product sectors and operates through seven branches in Brazil and 15 overseas offices.

Both sides agreed on the early finalization of the Protocol of Intentions on Cooperation for the Promotion of Foreign Trade and Investment Attraction between Sri Lanka and Brazil. They also discussed organizing joint promotional activities to enhance awareness of each country’s export potential and investment opportunities, and committed to working closely for mutual benefit.

The meeting was also attended by George Maha, Specialist of the Institutional and Government Relations Division at ApexBrasil, and Chathurika Perera, Minister Counsellor (Commercial) of the Sri Lankan Embassy.