Sri Lanka-Germany fast track dialogue to promote German investments and tourism in the island
The Sri Lanka-Germany fast track dialogue, which was held recently at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, is looking at addressing central issues faced by German enterprises operating in Sri Lanka under the state investment promotions agency, the Board of Investment (BOI) as well as to facilitate new investments to the island.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama has led the Sri Lankan delegation assisted by BOI Sri Lanka Chairman, Mangala Yapa and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, W A D S Gunasinghe.
Also present were members of key Sri Lankan institutions.
The German delegation was led by Jorn Rohde, German Ambassador in Sri Lanka who was assisted by Andreas Hergenroether, Chief Delegate Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK).
According to reports, the German companies present at the discussion were B Braun Lanka Pvt Ltd., DHL, Keells Pvt Ltd, Eskimo Fashion Knitwear (Private) Ltd., Go Vacation Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., (Den Touristk), Hellmann MAS Supply Chain (Private) Limited, Kramsli Lanka (Pvt) Limited, Ceylon Oxygen Limited and Wurth Lanka.
Samarawickrama after welcoming the members at the meeting had stated that Germany was a very important trading partner for Sri Lanka with a volume of trade totaling 1.2 billion euro.
The Minister had added that there was an important trade and investment delegation to Germany in 2018, but that recent events had impacted on the inroads made in taking economic relations even further.
Ambassador Rohde had meanwhile stated that economic relations should ideally resemble the German autobahns, providing speedy solutions to all issues.
Germany had welcomed any effort aimed at improving Sri Lankan’s business climate and also the resolution of any issues faced by German SMEs.
He had added that he wanted to see a return of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka since the Easter Sunday events.
Sri Lankan tourism authorities are to carry out tourism promotional campaigns in Berlin to address tourists and travel agents and educate them about Sri Lanka.
OSL take:
The fast track dialogue between Sri Lanka and Germany is a positive initiative that would further boost bilateral and trade ties between the two countries. The discussion on investment and tourism promotions in Germany would undoubtedly yield lucrative results to both countries. The dialogue could also expand to cover more areas of mutual business interests. Sri Lanka is also beneficiary of the EU GSP Plus facility. Given the ties between the two countries German businesses/investors could explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and vice versa.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/04072019/Z_2 |