{"id":116426,"date":"2021-07-23T16:01:44","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T23:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=116426"},"modified":"2021-07-23T16:01:44","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T23:01:44","slug":"role-of-ambassies-and-consulates-in-promoting-exports-and-investments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2021\/07\/23\/role-of-ambassies-and-consulates-in-promoting-exports-and-investments\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018\u2019ROLE OF AMBASSIES AND CONSULATES IN PROMOTING EXPORTS AND INVESTMENTS\u2019\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sarath Wijesinghe former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and President Ambassador\u2019s Forum <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Knowledge and competence of an Ambassador <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ambassadors and Consuls are those nominated by the country of origin to\nthe host country by the head of the country to represent the Head and the\ncountry and the nation, for matters specifically expected by the\nrepresentatives with enormous responsibility thrust upon by the Nation. Ambassador\nis a diplomat and the official envoy of a nation and the head of the state, who\nrepresents the state and the head of the state usually accredited to another\nsovereign state or to an international organization. Embassies are headed by\nAmbassadors and High Commissioners with enormous responsibilities on internal\nand international political and economic responsibilities mainly on promoting\nthe good will and foreign policy other state politics and economy of the state.\nThe candidates chosen are of the highest quality and education standers and\ncompetence to engage in diplomatic duties, such as meeting foreign leaders,\nNegotiate the agreements and treatises, Monitor International situations, Direct\nthe foreign service staff, oversee foreign aid and business projects,engage and\nentertain visitors and many other conventional and traditional duties expected\nby an ambassador during the tenure of the office. Appointment of the Ambassador\nis the prerogative and responsibility of the head of the state, who will bear responsibility\nof the conduct and competence, approved by the High Post Committee of the\nParliament consisting of a group of selected members of the Parliament of the\ncompetence which is rarely rejected or contested. Ambassadors should be\nextremely learned on the practice and conventions guided by such as the Vienna\nConvention and relevant treatises. Foreign policy officials may be conversant\nwith the diplomatic process and the others selected from and out of the\nlearned, professionals or academics will be given a brief training and expected\nto study by themselves. A main criteria and a requirement for an Ambassador in\na commonwealth country such as Sri Lanka being an educated nation with citizens\nis a good commented of English language and academic excellence with high\ncompetence on written and spoken English to go through and academic or impromptu\nspeech before audiences. Ambassadors are normally resident in the host country\nor supervise the neighbouring countries for convenience and the Consulates are\nmanaged by diplomats, officers in the trade Ministry, or other appointees appointed\nto deal with specific duties mainly on trade commerce and connected matters.\nSome Counsel Generals are paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the\nMinistry of trade and in some cases they hold honorary positions for specific\nduties. The head of the state has the sole prerogative on the appointment of Ambassadors\nat his wish and generally advised by the Minister of foreign affairs which is a\npractice and not mandatory. Ambassadors appointed are to be of highest\neducation qualifications of an area of discipline, and learned on foreign\npolicy and relations and competence in spoken and written language in main\nlanguages accepted by the United Nations, preferable English Language\nwell-mannered with excellent backgrounds in professional academic or\neducational standards. Today the nations have given highest priority to economic\ndiplomacy through the state outlets including embassies and consulate offices.\nThere is trade war and influences of world economic powers on smaller nations\nto align themselves to their click as the word economic powers have grouped\ntogether such as G7 and many other ways. In this context the Ambassadors and\nConsul Generals have a pivot role in promoting the respective states with the\nnetwork of outlets worldwide using diplomatic skills and influences. In that\ncontext the economic role of the Ambassador is numerous. The privileges and\nresponsibilities have to be developed communicated and utilized to the\nadvantage of the country they represent. It is a part of the mandate to develop\npeople to people contacts and take steps on economic promotion. Exploiting for\nFDI, investment opportunities and export promotions are to be campaigned with\nthe help of the assigned and tamed staff on commercial dealings. Business\nPromotions during the global Economic Shift on activisms of China, Brazil,\nIndia, Russia, and South Africa despite the shifts of the traditional west and\nthe world effects of the corona pandemic which has shaken the world over\nlooking for new avenues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term diplomacy refers to dealings with other states on trade economy\nculture environment human rights strategies, s advantages and many other areas\nthis is generally led by the leader of the state with the foreign minister and\nthe embassies around the world. In some countries the foreign minister is entrusted\nwith the work personally handled by the head of the estate. Some countries the\nhead handles in person. State deal with the rest of the countries via foreign\nministers, the Ambassadors and embassies. Ambassadors have adopted a similar\nmethod in running the Embassies and performing duties with other Embassies and host countries\nincluding the business communities Chambers of Commerce and Trade Organizations.\nToday the Foreign Ministry of a country performs a pivotal role on economic\ndevelopment and therefore will go beyond traditional diplomacy in dealing with\nthe member states. Countries have given highest priority to Economic Trade\ninvestment and business resulting in an amalgamation of economic and traditional\ndiplomacy in the interaction between states. With the advent of modern\ndevelopments in technology and communication, states have been brought closer\nthan ever where news and information is imparted in seconds breaking all\ntraditional barriers. Trade war has replaced traditional wars as the priority\nof any modern nation is promotion of trade, commerce and other sectors such as\nagriculture and hi-tech innovations. Economic\nDiplomacy is a form of diplomacy to utilize the full spectrum of economic facts\nand realities in a State to achieve success in international goals in foreign\npolicy which is an extension of national policy and interest. This includes all\npolicy issues and economic activities in the private and public sector which in\nturn concerns economic policy issues. In UAE the heads of business Chambers\nhave been elevated to the positions of Ambassadors and the State is patronizing\nthe business community. Sri Lanka have an Embassy in Abu – Dhabi rich in oil,\nand the consulate in Dubai the business commercial and tourist canters with\nlarge number of Asian and African labor force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Highness\n\u2018Sheikha Lubna\u2019 (Minister of Foreign Trade) personally led the powerful forty\nmember trade delegation to Sri Lanka<\/em><\/strong>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Initiated by then Ambassador in UAE, with a\nstrong delegation of over forty and in return to Sri Lanka with similar\nassignments and goodwill. This trend was followed by the initiation of the\nEmbassy and Ambassador to invite the President of Sri Lanka to UAE for the\nEnergy Summit and bilateral discussions which are duties and responsibilities\nof the Embassy and the Ambassador. The Israeli Chambers made a number of trade\nmissions to Sri Lanka and a rousing welcome was given to the Sri Lankan Head of\nState concentrating on trade and commerce in addition to traditional diplomacy\nhaving had a series of serious discussions with then Prime Minister Mr\n\u2018Nethinharue\u2019. The visit was initiated by the embassy and Ambassador of Israel\nespecially to exchange the innovations and knowledge of the agricultural and\nother innovations with strengthening bilateral relations. Ambassadors in EU ware\nactively canvassing Sri Lankan Government on business avenues and facilities.\nEven the Ambassadors in world powers such as USA, UK, France, China Germany and\nother major powers have given targets to the Ambassadors for mega projects on\naviation, Infrastructure and development schemes for projects. All the states\nin the world family has given top priority to economic progress through\neconomic diplomacy process. Economic policies are formulated and implemented with the\nguidance and direction of the Ambassadors with the Foreign Ministry\/Minister\nfor development and to obtain resources, funds and business which is a\ncompetitive factor and a science today. Economic policy is independent on the\nforeign policy of the country and should generally be consistent irrespective\nof the change of governments. In India governments will change but not the\nforeign and economic policies. This is the case in many parts of the world and\nit is time we follow suit in our own interest. State craft in economic\ndiplomacy <\/strong>by the term diplomacy refers to dealings\nwith other states on Trade, War, Economy, Culture, Environment, Human Rights,\nStrategic advantages and many other areas. This is generally led by the leader\nof the State with the Foreign Minister and the Embassies around the world. In\nsome countries the Foreign Minister is entrusted with the work personally\nhandled by the head of the state. Some countries the head handles it in person\nand some through the Foreign Minister depending on the trust and the\nrelationship with the head of the state and respective ministers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embassies and Consulates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

States deal with the rest of the world via\nthe Foreign Ministries, the Ambassadors and Embassies. Ambassadors have adopted\na unique  methods in running the\nEmbassies and performing duties with other Embassies and host countries\nincluding the business communities Chambers of Commerce and Trade Organizations\ntraditionally on and with the advice of the respective Foreign Ministries and\nhead of states , which gives an impact of the country and the future on\ninvestments and exports. Today the Foreign Ministry of a country performs a\npivotal role on economic development and therefore will go beyond traditional\ndiplomacy in dealing with the member states on trade commerce including exports\nand investments. Sri Lanka has 50 Embassies and 103 consulates in the network\ndealing with the rest of the world. Countries have given highest priority to\nEconomic Trade investment and business resulting in an amalgamation of economic\nand traditional diplomacy in the interaction between states. With the advent of\nmodern developments in technology and communication, states have been brought\ncloser than ever where news and information is imparted in seconds breaking all\ntraditional barriers. Trade war has replaced traditional wars as the priority\nof any modern nation is promotion of trade, commerce and other sectors such as\nagriculture and hi-tech innovations. Diplomatic missions spread worldwide as\nEU319, China 276, USA273, France 267, japan 247, Russia 282,UK 205,and Sri\nLanka 67 of the states indicate the diplomatic network and connections which is\nlinked to economy and foreign relations, UN acting in the middle playing an\nimportant an pivotal role as the world organization actively involved  with the states via IMF,WTO, and other\nsubsidiary organizations linked and supervised via the Vienna Convention and\ndiplomatic relations of 1961,with links with \nthe 1815 initiative. International Relations is relations with states\nwith each other and with international organizations and groups with the basis\nof and connected to diplomacy and diplomatic relations with and among states,\nwhich are a set of formal legal institutions now consisting of over 190 nation\nstates which are sovereign based on the UN Charter, with political and economic\nentities full of economic and political nationalism toward themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promoting investments and exports <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main and pivot roles expected by the\nEmbassies and Consulates of respective states are, promoting the policies and\nbusinesses of respective nations, the trade policies exports and investments as\nthe main outlets of the state. Whether this is adequately done in Sri Lanka by\nthe network of Sri Lankan Ambassadors and Counsel Generals is a moot issue, but\nwe find many Embassies worldwide small or large stationed in Sri Lanka works\nhard in promoting their policies and businesses in promoting their respective\nnations. Though we are not aware and known the allegations of a leading lady\nambassador in a most powerful country approaching the Oil Minister in\ninfluencing a mega deal, we are aware these things are happening in Sri Lanka\ndiscreetly and openly canvassing their respective countries that we have not\nheard of on our Ambassadors and Counsel Generals worldwide which is not a\nsatisfactory situation. In the circumstances steps taken by the International\nChamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka in partnership with Sri Lanka- China Business\nCounsel of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Colombo stock Exchange, European\nChamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, and the daily Financial Times in organizing a\nwebinar to discuss the role of Embassies and Consulates in promoting exports and\nInvestments on 31str of July 2021, from04.PM \u2013 06.00 PM (SL time) and will live\ncasted via ICCL Facebook TV CH.20on Peo – TV is on the right direction salutary\nand encouraging indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Keynote address to the webinar to be\ndelivered by Ambassador Robert Blake, \u2013 currently US Assistant Secretary of State\nfor South and Central Asian affairs from 2009-2013, while presentations to be\ndelivered by Mr Crispin Conroy AM Ambassador\/Permanent observer to the United\nnations at Geneva and Representative to \nthe World Trade Organization at ICC, with  PENALIATS Mr Rohitha Bogollagama – former Minister\nof Foreign Affairs in  Sri Lanka, H.E\nSaroja Sirisena – High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to United  Kingdom, – H.E \nShashikala Premawardena High commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, – H.E.Riaz\nHamimidullah Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands  – H.E Dr Palitha Kohona, – Mr Bernadrd\nGoonatilaka a former Secretory to Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka , – H.E Saroja\nSirisena –  High Commissioner of Sri\nLanka to the  United Kingdom,\nH.E.Shashikla Premewardena  – High\nCommissioner of Singapore, H.E.Riaz Hamidullah Ambassador of Bangaladesh to the\nNetherlands ,H.E Dr Palitha Kohona Ambassador of Sri Lanka in the Peoples\nRebublic of China – Mr Sarath Wijesinghe President\u2019s Counsel and former\nAmbassador to UAE and Israel, President Ambassador\u2019s Forum Mr  Lasiri Mendis Former Ambassador to Austria,\nMr Sanjaya Mohattala Chairman Board of Investments Sri Lanka, Mr Rajive Bandarneika\nCEO Colombo Exchange Mr Laxman Hulugalle \nCounsel General to Sydney Australia, Dr Jurgen Morhard Consulate General\nGerman Consulate General Mumbai India, Dr Prakesh Pandey first Secetary\nEconomic and Commercial Indian High Commission of Sri Lanka, – Mr Li Guangjun\nEconomic and Commercial Consular Embassy of Peoples Republic of China with  Moderators Mr Buddhitha K Atauda former Ambassador\nto Netherlands France and Spain Mr Dinesh Weerakoody, and Mr Nister Cassim.\nWebinar is open to those who register themselves in advance which will cater\nthe diplomats, academics, students, and those interested in foreign policy and\nforeign relations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sarath Wijesinghe former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and President Ambassador\u2019s Forum Knowledge and competence of an Ambassador Ambassadors and Consuls are those nominated by the country of origin to the host country by the head of the country to represent the Head and the country and the nation, for matters specifically expected by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sarath-wijesinghe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116426\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}