FM woos Qatar investors

Sri Lanka is an attractive investment hub for Qatar businessmen and a plenty of opportunities are available in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and petroleum exploration, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who is on an official visit to the State of Qatar met with Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, at the Emiri Diwan (Royal Palace).

Urging Qatari participation in Sri Lanka’s development process, Minister Bogollagama told Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani that much opportunity exists for foreign participation in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and petroleum exploration.

Referring in particular to trade and direct foreign investment, the Minister said that Qatari businessmen could invest in Sri Lanka, one of the most assured location in terms of facilities and investment guarantees, so as to avail themselves of the opportunity to export to the vast Indian and Pakistani markets, with which Sri Lanka has Free Trade Agreements.

He also explained the opportunities available to export to the European Union under the GSP+ concessions granted to Sri Lanka by the European Union. Al-Thani who is also the Foreign Minister was given a detailed briefing on the current situation in Sri Lanka by Minister Bogollagama.

Explaining the progress made by the Security Forces in the fight against terrorism, the Minister said the LTTE was being roundly defeated in all fronts and this victory was being achieved due to the support given by the ordinary Tamil people who had been victims of the LTTE’s reign of terror. He explained the strategy pursued by the Security Forces in following a zero tolerance policy on civilian casualties.

The Minister stated, the A9 road which connects the Northern and Southern parts of the country was under Government control and it was only a matter of time when reconstruction efforts are launched.

The Minister stated that LTTE inspired terrorism had to be systematically dealt with and this was done first in the Eastern part of the country where today the rule of law was fully operative and democracy established.

Al-Thani thanked the Minister for the extensive briefing and acknowledged that there was scope for participation by Qatar both at private sector and public sector levels.

He further stated the upcoming visit of the Emir of Qatar to Sri Lanka would provide an ideal launching pad for such opportunities.

The Prime Minister was of the view that trade chambers in both countries could play an important role in this exercise. The Foreign Minister agreed to the Prime Minister’s request to support Qatar’s application for Observer Status in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) and received assurances of support by the Prime Minister in regard to Sri Lanka’s membership in the Organisation of Islamic Countries.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka and suggested that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Doha and the Embassy of Qatar in Colombo could coordinate matters.

Minister Bogollagama also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, Abdullah Bin Hamad al-Attiyah and requested for assistance in establishing a LNG terminal in Sri Lanka. The Deputy Prime Minister agreed to consider the request once the total survey of reserves was completed in 2012.

The Deputy Prime Minister also agreed to provide free technical advice in Sri Lanka’s quest for the exploration of oil offshore.