‘Time ripe for higher UAE investment in Sri Lanka’

“The United Arab Emirates Government is very well disposed towards Sri Lanka and has been very generous in its aid, now the time is ripe for higher investment by U.A.E. in Sri Lanka” said Sri Lanka - Africa and Middle East Business Council President, Samantha Ranatunga and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Deputy Vice Chairman addressing the Sri Lanka - UAE Business Forum recently.

Ranatunga further noted that the businessmen from U.A.E., who are quite rightly concerned with the bottom line, would do well to examine closely the performance of companies in the private sector here. They will be astonished to find that the growth rate of profits of some of the well-run companies in the Sri Lankan private sector has been far above the average of other countries in the region despite the global financial crisis.

The Sri Lanka - Africa and Middle East Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce works with the objectives of promoting trade between Sri Lanka and the UAE, investment and tourism from Middle East and Africa to Sri Lanka. Ranatunga said that the trade promotion activities carried out by the two Councils have contributed notably to the strengthening of bonds and increase of business between the two countries. The Council comprises 60 companies and the Council facilitated members to actively participate at the Gulf Food Trade Fair this year.

Ranatunga said that he hopes that this Business Forum will result in renewed interest in investment, making new acquaintances and trading ideas on how to promote future economic interchange between the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka.