SL attracts US firms
*Core benefits of peace and reconciliation
*Over Rs 1b investments for Jaffna
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
Sri Lanka could attract more US investments as it is moderate at
present.
“It is necessary to re-calibrate Sri Lanka for new assessments and
the USA has a positive role to play in the country’s trade and
investment,” Assistant United States Trade Representative for Central
and South Asia Michael Delaney said.
He said Sri Lanka needs to work towards political reconciliation.
“The resolution will be a steady process and reconciliation will
facilitate economic growth. It is also important to focus on inclusive
economic growth.”
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Assistant United States Trade
Representative Michael Delaney addressing the meeting. Board
of Investment Executive Director (Promotion) Duminda
Ariyasinghe, Central Bank Assistant Governor C J P
Siriwardena, Commerce Department Director-General Gomi
Senadhira, Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary Tilak
Collure, Sri Lankan Ambassador in US Jaliya Wickramasuriya,
Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Charge d’
Affaires of the United States to Sri Lanka Valerie C Fowler,
Brandot International Limited Chief Executive Officer Martin
Trust, South Asia and Oceania US Department of Commerce
Official Erol Yesin look on. Picture by Roshan Pitipana |
The end of war was a huge event in Sri Lanka’s history and has
provided enormous opportunities. However the country faces many
challenges and needs to overcome them by capitalizing on trade and
investment power it possesses, Delaney said.
The second Sri Lanka US Public Private Partnership conference was
held in Colombo yesterday. The conference aims to promote closer
linkages between the private sector business leaders of the United
States and Sri Lanka and to involve their maximum participation in the
post conflict development initiatives launched by the Government.
“Sri Lanka would emerge as a key economic power and it looks forward
to core benefits of peace.
The conference is a productive exercise in harnessing emerging
opportunities in Sri Lanka to make it a dynamic economic hub,” Industry
and Commerce Ministry Secretary Tilak Collure said.
“The sectors such as port, tourism, IT, agro and fisheries could be
revitalized for economic development”.
“There will be positive impact on our concerted efforts to enhance
trade and investment relationships with the USA,” he said.
Sri Lanka should be made the next business stop for countries such as
the USA. The investment in the country will fuel the economic growth.
The prospects of peace and reconciliation will lead to prosperity, Sri
Lanka’s Ambassador in United States of America Jaliya Wickramasuriya
said.
“The Northern Province will be a major player in the country’s
development drive. There will be over Rs one billion worth of
development activities in the Province. The economy is steady and
moving. It looks positive of the future growth. The country should be
showcase as place to do business,” he said.
There were a large number of US firms that are keen to invest in
sectors such as agro-based products, textile and clothing, hospitality
industry, telecommunication, domestic air transport, IT/BPO, healthcare
and jewellery manufacturing, participated in the conference.
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