Brazil President calls for enhanced economic ties with Lanka
Brazilian President Luiz In- acio Lula da Silva underscored the
importance of enhancing economic and trade ties between his country and
Sri Lanka.
He made this call at a discussion with the new Sri Lankan Ambassador
to Brazil A.M.J. Sadiq, who presented his credentials to the President
in Brasilia last Friday. Immediately following the presentation of his
credentials at a ceremony held at the President's Office in the
Brazilian capital, the Ambassador held a wide ranging discussion with
President Lula.
President Lula da Silva (L) with Ambassador Sadiq |
Ambassador Sadiq conveyed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's greetings and
good wishes to the Brazilian President and reiterated the invitation
extended by President Rajapaksa for him to visit Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador recalled the meeting between the two leaders in Rome
in June 2008 on the sidelines of the FAO sponsored World Food Security
Summit and the subsequent letter of invitation sent by President
Rajapaksa to President Lula. President Lula, while expressing his
interest to visit Sri Lanka, stated that he would like to initially send
his Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim ahead of his own visit. Ambassador
Sadiq, welcoming the proposed visit of the Foreign Minister, briefed
President Lula on recent developments in Sri Lanka, especially the
success achieved by the Government in eradicating terrorism and the new
environment that has been created which is conducive to attracting
increased foreign investment and transforming the island into the
commercial and business hub of South Asia.
He also outlined the attractive incentives offered by the Government
to foreign investors, and invited Brazilian industrialists to set up
their manufacturing units in Sri Lanka, to gain better and preferential
market access for their products to the rapidly expanding economies in
Asia.
President Lula responded by stating that he would also like to send
his Minister of Development, Industry and External Commerce to Sri Lanka
in due course, which would serve to boost trade economic links between
the two nations.
While no dates have been discussed for the proposed visit of
President Lula to Sri Lanka, it is likely that it could take place in
the first half of 2010. Ambassador Sadiq conveyed to President Lula, the
sincere appreciation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government
of Sri Lanka for the strong support extended by Brazil for Sri Lanka's
sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
In particular, the Ambassador thanked President Lula for standing
firmly by Sri Lanka at the Special Session of the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva in May, 2009.
The Brazilian President conveyed through the Ambassador, his personal
greetings to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his best wishes for peace
and prosperity in Sri Lanka. |