{
  "id": 8565387,
  "title": "Lanka eyes bigger share of Asia’s growth networks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/lanka-eyes-bigger-share-of-asias-growth-networks",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-19T23:50:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/lanka-eyes-bigger-share-of-asias-growth-networks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the upcoming Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, a session titled \"Linking Sri Lanka to Asia's Growth Networks: Trade, Corridors, and Value Chains\" will explore how the country can better utilize its connections within regional trade networks, supply chains and economic corridors. This will enable Sri Lanka to attract investment, expand trade and enhance its position within regional value chains. The session will be chaired by Subhashini Abeysinghe, Research Director of Verité Research, and will feature an insightful discussion with distinguished speakers, including P.D Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Akio Isomata, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Masaaki Kawabata, Chairman of Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited, and Ravi Jayawardena, Group Chief Executive Officer of Maliban Biscuits (Private) Limited. The session will delve into the ways Sri Lanka can strengthen its integration with Asia's growth networks, improve trade connectivity, and attract investment in sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and export services. The discussion will also consider the experiences of businesses and international institutions operating in the region, offering valuable insights on market assessment, supply chain development, and investment identification. This session is part of the second day of SLEIS 2026, which focuses on the theme \"Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy.\" The summit is supported by various sponsors and partners, including Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, VISA Worldwide, South Asia Gateway Terminals, Asian Development Bank, Dialog Telecommunication, Dialog Television, David Pieris Motor Company, Hemas Holdings PLC, Sunshine Holdings PLC, International Construction Consortium, Hayleys Advantis Limited, SriLankan Airlines, and China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.",
  "summary": "As Asia continues to account for a growing share of global economic activity, Sri Lanka faces an important opportunity to strengthen its links with regional trade networks, supply chains and economic corridors. How the country can make better use of these connections to attract investment, expand trade and strengthen its position in regional value chains […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Session chaired by Subhashini Abeysinghe, explores trade, corridors, and value chains.",
    "Speakers include P.D Singh, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Akio Isomata, and Ravi Jayawardena."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}