The Embassy and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok in collaboration with the Board of Investment of Thailand recently organised an awareness programme on the benefits of the Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) and investment opportunities in Sri Lanka under the theme “Sri Lanka: The Future for Investment” at the One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSOS) of the Thailand BOI.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne, in her opening remarks highlighted the economic obstacles that Sri Lanka has encountered and elaborated the government’s proactive steps to tackle the crisis and revitalize the economy. While stating that the recently signed Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement is expected to boost trade and investment ties between the two countries and promote deeper integration with ASEAN economies, Ambassador Colonne extended an invitation to Thai investors to explore the diverse investment prospects that Sri Lanka offers.
The Deputy Secretary General of the Board of Investment of Thailand Narucha Ruchuphan stated that Thai enterprises could explore the potential markets like Sri Lanka, as one of the significant emerging markets. He further emphasized that Sri Lanka is situated strategically at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and connected to South Asia, Middle East, and also to Africa. He added that Sri Lanka has achieved progress in recovering from the economic crisis and that the country has become more attractive to investors from all over the world.
The Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Renuka Weerakone presented an overview of the business climate in Sri Lanka as well as investment opportunities that are available in tourism, mixed development, renewable energy and fisheries sectors. She also shared recent key initiatives of the BOI Sri Lanka to boost investments.
Executive Director, Thai Entrepreneurship Division of the Thailand Board of Investment Patcharada Nawakawongkarn, Senior officials of the Urban Development Authority, Ceylon Electricity Board and National Aquaculture Development Authority joined the event online and presented the investment opportunities available in the renewable energy, aquaculture, mixed development, hospitality and tourism, logistics, IT based development, educational development and entertainment sectors in Sri Lanka.
Renowned Thai investors in Sri Lanka such as Siam City Cement PCL, Bischoff Gamma Company Ltd and Minor International PCL CP Foods PCL shared their success stories in doing business with Sri Lanka. First Secretary A.W.S. Samanmali and First Secretary (Commercial) Vireshika Bandara of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Bangkok also joined the programme.
More than 30 Thai and international prominent investors highly appreciated the awareness programme and showed keen interest in investing in Sri Lanka leveraging the benefits offered under the Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.
