The meeting opened with welcome remarks by Mr. Martin Klose, Chief Delegate of AHK Sri Lanka, who welcomed the participants and gave a brief overview of the key topics of the session. This was followed by an update on recent economic and political developments in Germany. The presentation highlighted that Germany’s economy continues to be influenced by global developments, including the crisis in the Middle East, which has affected energy prices and inflation. Participants were also briefed on recent trade developments, including the EU’s free trade agreements with Mercosur and India, as well as ongoing discussions around the reform of Germany’s statutory health insurance system.
Another key part of the meeting was a presentation on Germany’s health and medical sector. Germany was highlighted as the largest medical market in Europe, with strong growth potential driven by demographic change, an ageing population, and increasing demand for healthcare services, medical technologies and innovative health solutions. The presentation also covered Germany’s medical technology clusters, international trade links, future priorities in the sector and relevant regulatory developments. The discussion provided valuable insights into how Sri Lankan companies could better understand developments and opportunities in the German and European healthcare markets.
A particularly valuable part of the meeting was the open discussion among sector committee members on current challenges affecting the health and medical sector in Sri Lanka. Participants exchanged views on exchange-rate fluctuations, tender pricing, regulatory procedures, pricing mechanisms, customs processes, and import-related challenges. The discussion also touched on the importance of pricing flexibility, competitiveness, and practical procedures for products with specific market requirements.
The meeting concluded with updates on sector committee membership renewal for 2026, upcoming AHK Sri Lanka events and future engagement opportunities. AHK Sri Lanka sincerely thanks all participants for their active contributions, valuable insights and continued engagement, which made the discussion highly relevant and constructive for the Medical & Health Sector Committee.