More investment with H'tota development - envoys

The development of Hambantota into a logistics hub will open up many opportunities for companies to invest and partner with Sri Lanka, three envoys said.

French ambassador Christine Robichon, German ambassador Dr Jurgen Morhard and British High Commissioner John Rankin made this comment when they visited Hambantota on February 12 and 13 along with trade team representatives.

The visit's primary objective was to explore trade and investment opportunities for their countries.

The three heads of mission said they were pleased to tour Hambantota District, a hub of promising economic development in Sri Lanka.

"Europe is Sri Lanka's major partner in trade and tourism. France, Germany and the UK accounted for nearly 25 percent of the total number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka in 2012," they said.

"We hope to see these figures increasing with the opening of the Mattala International Airport and welcoming of international flights. SriLankan Airlines has a long standing relationship with our countries. Its fleet is made up exclusively of Airbus planes. Airbus planes are state of the art in particular for their fuel and cost efficiency," the three envoys said. "We look forward to this relationship growing even stronger in the future. The EU is Sri Lanka's largest export market with over 30 percent of all exports in 2011 going to the EU. Exports to the EU have been increasing steadily for six consecutive years," they said.

"Over 200 European companies currently invest in Sri Lanka. The development of Hambantota into a logistics hub will open up many opportunities for companies to invest and partner with Sri Lanka. Our ties to the people of Hambantota are deep. Our three countries contributed substantially to the post tsunami reconstruction. We wish the people of Hambanotata well and hope our countries can be part of its success story, " the envoys said.

The Heads of Missions also visited the District Secretariat of Hambantota; the International Convention Centre; a meeting with the Hambantota Chamber of Commerce; and visits to the Shangri-La project development site, the Hambantota sea port and the Mattala Airport.