EU-SL Biz Dialogue in Colombo

The European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) will launch the European Union- Sri Lanka (EU-SL) Investor Dialogue on July 9, 2013 at the Hilton Colombo Residence, under the patronage of Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Investment Promotion and Faizer Mustapha, the Deputy Minister.

In November 2012, the ECCSL, in collaboration with the EU-SL Business Council in Brussels, Belgium launched the EU-SL Business Dialogue. This paved the way for numerous dialogues taking place with the European Union (EU) - Member States representations, European Investors and Sri Lankan businesses to explore joint venture partnerships.

The ECCSL and the key stakeholders are of the view that the Ministry of Investment Promotion and the Board of Investment (BOI) play a vital role, not only in attracting foreign investment to Sri Lanka, but also in retaining the foreign investment already present in the country. In this context, the reinstatement of the Ministry of Investment and Promotion gives positive signals to the prospective foreign investors.

The ECCSL has carried out numerous discussions with the Ministry of Investment and Promotion; and encouraging and supporting discussions have taken place with Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Faizer Mustapha and the Board of Investment towards working in collaboration to foster foreign direct investment, and enhancing the investment climate in Sri Lanka from a European perspective.

The ECCSL is positive that its initiative would facilitate the European investors in numerous ways to explore the possibilities to invest in Sri Lanka, and it hopes to expand its services towards contributing to Sri Lanka's investment and business environment.

The European Investors in Sri Lanka are encouraged to be an integral part of this initiative on a long-term basis. An invitation is further extended to all European Investors to join the ECCSL at the launch on July 9, 2013. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment and Promotion and the BOI.