Vietnam Business Forum:

Injection of FDI into economy crucial

On the economic front, our policy's guiding principle will be to sustain economic growth. To achieve that objective, the injection of FDI into our economy will play a paramount role in that regard, said Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa at the Vietnam Business Forum.

"The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka is therefore aggressively promoting investment that included hosting a number of targeted road shows such as this one in Ho Chi Minh City," he said. Sri Lanka is now taking an innovative approach by re-examining all aspects impacting on the nation in a world environment that is consistently changing.

He said that Sri Lanka is ready for business and is taking a fresh new approach to enjoy to the fullest the dividends of peace. This is the most opportune time to invest in Sri Lanka.

"The manufacture of rubber-based products in Sri Lanka is, in my view, an area that offers considerable potential. Sri Lanka, just like Vietnam, does have natural rubber.

We already have industries, which are rubber based such as the manufacture of solid rubber tyres and rubber gloves. Vietnamese investors could look at the possibility of more advanced products such as automobile parts," he said.

"There is a potential for tourism related projects. With the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka, we have regained control over nearly two thirds of our coastline, which means that there are considerable opportunities for projects such as hotels along the coastline," he said.