Explore Lanka for infrastructure projects, envoy urges Malaysians
Malaysian investors could take advantage of the booming
infrastructure sector and focus their investments to Sri Lanka, says
Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Rosli Ismail.
He said several Malaysian companies had made successful foray into
the country and the time was ripe for more investors to enter the South
Asian market.
"Time for Malaysian companies to look at Sri Lanka's potential
because the country is developing. They should take the lead from the
existing Malaysian companies here which are doing very well," Rosli told
Bernama.
Several Malaysian companies like Dialog Telekom Plc, a subsidiary of
TM International Bhd, MTD Construction HeiTech Padu Bhd had ventured
into the country. Sri Lanka's economy is registering more than six per
cent growth and Colombo is bustling with commercial activities.
Malaysia remains the largest investor in the country, mainly in
telecommunications, infrastructure and property development. Dialog, for
instance, was the single largest investor in Sri Lanka last year with
close to US $ 328 million investments.
The Government had introduced the 10-year economic development
policy, the Mahinda Chintana - where the focus is to steer investments
to vital sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure development to
pump up the economy further.
"The Government is trying hard to develop infrastructure like
bridges, houses and highways, there are ample opportunities in the
infrastructure sector for Malaysians and Sri Lankan companies are also
keen to form JVs (Joint Venture) with Malaysian companies," he added.
Education and tourism are other potential sectors for Malaysian
investors. More Sri Lankans are also visiting Malaysia - about 20,000
from Sri Lanka visited last year, compared to 10,000 visitors
previously. (Bernama)
|