July 31, Colombo: India's Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles Anand Sharma will visit Sri Lanka from 2-5 August 2012 with a high-powered official and business delegation, the High Commission of India in Colombo said in a release today.

Indian Minister's visit will coincide with the Indian exposition "India Show - Land of Limitless Opportunities" that will be held from 3-5 August, 2012 at BMICH in Colombo.

Minister Sharma will inaugurate "The India Show" along with Sri Lanka's Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Industry & Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen, and Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation Sarath Amunugama, on 3rd August.

The show is organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, High Commission of India and India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).

The exhibition is aimed at promoting two-way flow of goods and services between Indian and Sri Lanka, providing a platform for Indian companies to showcase their strengths and capabilities, encouraging Indian investment in Sri Lanka as well as to provide opportunities to the Sri Lankan companies to build business partnerships with Indian companies, the High Commission said in its statement.

The show will feature a business conference, one-to-one meetings, and a cultural evening and a gala dinner in addition to the three-day exhibition at BMICH and the attendance of a ministerial and a high level business delegations.

Some of the key sectors represented at the exhibition are Infrastructure, Power, Mineral Fuels, Oil and Products, Electrical Machinery and Parts, Food products, Agro-processing, Mining Machinery, Railway Equipment, Rolling Stock , Paper, Paper Board and Paper Pulp, Handicrafts, Textiles and Garments, Information and Communications Technology and Financial Services.

The "India Show" brings together over 105 companies from India for the exhibition. Two high-level business delegations from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) would be part of the delegation led by the Indian Minister.

During his visit, Minister Sharma is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with a number of Sri Lankan dignitaries.

The Minister's visit in connection with the 'India Show', the launch of 'India-Sri Lanka CEOs Forum' will significantly contribute to a closer economic relationship between India and Sri Lanka, the High Commission said.

The 12-member CEOs delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is led by Mr. Rajive Kaul, Chairman, Nicco Corporation Ltd and includes Mr. R. Seshasayee, Executive Vice Chairman, Ashok Leyland, Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr. T. T. Ashok, Managing Director, Taylor Rubber Private Ltd. , Mr. Suneel M Advani, Executive Vice Chairman, Blue Star Ltd., Mr. S Abhaya Kumar, Managing Director, Shasun Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sir Ganesan Natarajan, Wholetime Director & President , Ennore Coke Ltd. and Mr. K Ramchand, Managing Director, IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharti Airtel Ltd, will be leading an Indian delegation for the CEO's Forum at the India show to be held on August 4th.

The other members of the Indian delegation are Mr. Vinod Desari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland; Mr. Arup Roy Choudhury Chairman, National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd.; Mr. Tulsi Tanti, Chairman & Managing Director, Suzlon Energy Ltd.; Mrs. Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group; Mr. Hari Bhartia, Co-Chairman & Managing Director, Jubilant Life Sciences; Mr. Atul Punj, Chairman, Punj Lloyd; Mr. Hemant G. Contractor, Managing Director (IB), State Bank of India; Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director TVS Motor Company, Mr. Veervijay Singh, Chief Operating Officer and Mr. S. Dakwale, Managing Director, Lanka Indian Oil Corporation.