George Steuart & Co., Sri Lanka’s oldest mercantile establishment, has become a Strategic Partner of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). This partnership was cemented during the recent visit of Lord Swire, Deputy Chairman of CWEIC, to Sri Lanka. The invitation extended to George Steuart & Co., is an acknowledgement of the company as the flagbearer of the local private sector’s evolution from colonial commerce to the corporate Sri Lanka of today.
The strategic partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) signifies a new chapter in George Steuart’s illustrious journey, as it becomes one the Council’s nearly 150 business and government Strategic Partners from 35 countries and territories.
CWEIC is a commercial, not-for-profit membership organisation with an official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government to facilitate trade and investment throughout the 56 Commonwealth member nations. The role of CWEIC is to use the convening power and trusted network of the Commonwealth, which is led by His Majesty The King, to drive trade and investment.
Lord Swire added “CWEIC’s mission is to connect businesses across the Commonwealth, leveraging shared values and trusted networks to unlock trade and investment opportunities. The addition of George Steuart & Co. as a Strategic Partner reflects Sri Lanka’s enduring role in the Commonwealth’s business landscape and the growing engagement of its private sector on the global stage. With its deep-rooted history and forward-looking approach, George Steuart & Co. is well positioned to benefit from and contribute to CWEIC’s dynamic ecosystem. I am confident that this partnership will open new avenues for collaboration, not just within Sri Lanka, but across the 56 nations of the Commonwealth.”
With a rich history deeply intertwined with the Commonwealth, George Steuart & Co., has cultivated an outstanding reputation for stability, innovation and business excellence as well as fostering international relationships. Founded in 1835 by Captain James Steuart as a pioneering merchant banker, George Steuart & Co., has, over the years, evolved into a diversified conglomerate, with significant interests in key sectors of the economy including tea, health, travel, leisure, financial service, industrial solutions and FMCG.
Sarva Ameresekere, Chairman of George Steuart & Co., emphasized “As George Steuart & Co., enters a decade that takes it to an incredible 200 years of business, the Group’s focus is on increasing export revenues and expanding its global footprint. The Group’s forward-looking strategy reflects a remarkable fusion of respect for its time-honored heritage and an unwavering commitment to capture the opportunities of tomorrow. This collaboration thus opens up exciting prospects, offering enhanced opportunities for international collaborations across multiple industries.”
