Sri Lanka and Japan discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in key economic sectors
Sri Lanka and Japan have discussed the commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in vital sectors of economic development.
Some of the key areas for such cooperation have been identified as information and communication technology (ICT), harbour infrastructure – including the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT), expressways, agriculture, digitalisation of television transmission, disaster prevention, and security cooperation.
This was stated when Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu recently visited Sri Lanka and called on the country’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.
The Japanese Minister was accompanied by an eight-member high-level delegation.
Congratulating President Rajapaksa on his recent electoral victory, Minister Toshimitsu had called Sri Lanka “a special friend of Japan”.
An invitation was also extended to the President to visit Japan.
The Japanese Minister has said, “We will be hosting an international conference titled ‘Friends of Asia’ which will be held in May next year. It would be an appropriate time for your visit to our country”. President Rajapaksa had accepted the invitation.
“Japan wishes to set up a bilateral mechanism to oversee successful implementation of mutually agreed development projects. It will help to introduce high-tech Japanese companies to Sri Lanka,” Toshimitsu has said.
“Ours is a small economy, but we have a skilled, educated and talented workforce. My intention is to build an employment-oriented, technology-driven economy. We seek Japan’s assistance to reach that goal,” President Rajapaksa has stated.
The President has further noted that he was open to foreign investments from all countries, especially the countries from within the region, such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore.
OSL take:
The commitment of the Japanese government to further strengthen its bilateral dealings with Sri Lanka is a positive sign for Japanese businesses to explore business/investment opportunities in the island. Given the economic sectors the Japanese government has shown interest in investing, local businesses could look at forming joint ventures/partnerships with Japanese businesses to engage in projects the relevant sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/17122019/Z_7 |