President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invited the Japanese business community to explore emerging economic opportunities in Sri Lanka, while emphasizing the need to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations and encouraging private sector collaboration.
The President made this statement while addressing the Japan–Sri Lanka Business Forum held yesterday (29) at the headquarters of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
The forum was attended by nearly 200 senior Japanese business leaders and jointly organized by JETRO, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan, the Japan–Sri Lanka Business Cooperation Committee, and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI).
Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Principal Advisor to the President on the Digital Economy, outlined the Government’s strategic initiatives for national digitalization, highlighting opportunities in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), with a special focus on positioning Sri Lanka as a regional hub for data center development.
The BOI further presented priority sectors for Japanese investment, including manufacturing, information and communication technology, renewable energy, and tourism. Sri Lanka’s readiness to support investors with strong policies and streamlined processes was emphasized.
A parallel networking session enabled direct engagement between Sri Lankan and Japanese business representatives.
President Dissanayake also held discussions with JETRO Chairman Ishiguro Norihiko, who reaffirmed JETRO’s commitment to act as a bridge between the business communities of the two countries and to foster mutually beneficial partnerships.
Sri Lanka’s delegation included Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism, Hanif Yusuf, Governor of the Western Province, Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe, Ambassador to Japan, Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Japanese side was represented by Dr. Ogushi Masaki, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, KOBAYASHI Fumihiko, Chairman of the Japan–Sri Lanka Business Cooperation Committee, and high-level members of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Japan–Sri Lanka Business Forum.
