Promoting business with Britain

The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) held its eight Annual General Meeting at Westminster House recently – the residence of the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka with Dr. Peter Hayes as the chief guest.

During the meeting, Gill Westaway, Director, British Council made a short presentation on the CBB’s main Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project – the English Language Teacher Training Programme that is managed by the British Council together with the CBB. Westaway reported that during the past year, 08 Regional English Support Centres were established, 16 mentors trained, 48 teachers granted international certification ,as a result of which 5120 students had benefited. She added that the 2007-2009 would see those numbers increasing with the Regional English Support Centres growing to 26 with 52 mentors and 456 teachers with international certification benefiting 36,480 pupils.

The CBB was formed in 2001, the result of a merger between the Sri Lanka United Kingdom Business Council and the British Business Association – Sri Lanka. The Council promotes the exchange of information on trade and investment, and supports the business community, which the organisation represents, by serving as the recognised representative of its members, in matters concerning business relations with Sri Lanka and the UK. 

Additionally, the CBB encourages and arranges discussions, the free exchange of ideas, information and advice pertaining to the interests of its members. It organises awareness programmes on doing business with the UK. Stimulates and aids in co-operation between member companies and other organisations. Provides and disseminates information that would be useful to member companies engaged in or considering trade between Sri Lanka and the UK.