Held under the theme “Strengthening Collaboration between the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the German Business Community: Supporting Future Investment and Business Partnerships in Sri Lanka,” the dialogue featured Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, as the guest speaker. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Martin Klose, Chief Delegate of AHK Sri Lanka.
During the discussion, Chairman Hulangamuwa outlined the BOI’s vision for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and highlighted the importance of a focused approach over the coming years. He identified several sectors with significant potential for investment, including logistics and maritime services, tourism, information technology, manufacturing, and education and skills development.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location and proximity to major regional markets were highlighted as important opportunities, particularly in relation to developing the country as a regional logistics and maritime hub. The discussion also emphasised the need for investment to generate tangible economic value for Sri Lanka and its population.
A key area of discussion was the digitisation of investment-related processes and access to suitable land. The BOI has introduced a land bank containing information on land potentially available for investment, while challenges relating to land availability, multiple authorities and approval procedures continue to be areas requiring attention.
The dialogue also explored opportunities and challenges surrounding IT investment, energy availability and skilled labour. Participants discussed the importance of reliable and affordable energy for technology-intensive investments, as well as the need to address skills shortages and the retention of qualified professionals. The importance of vocational education and targeted skills development was also highlighted as a means of strengthening Sri Lanka’s investment environment.
The open discussion provided members of the German business community with an opportunity to raise practical issues affecting investment and business operations. These included regional infrastructure and utility costs, access to raw materials, domestic aviation projects, potential cruise connections between Sri Lanka and India, and the availability of investment incentives.
The exchange highlighted the value of continued dialogue between the BOI and the German business community in identifying investment opportunities while addressing practical challenges faced by businesses. The meeting concluded with an indication that further information would be shared with participants and that the dialogue between the BOI and the German business community would continue.
AHK Sri Lanka remains committed to facilitating meaningful engagement between the German and Sri Lankan business communities and creating platforms for dialogue, exchange and future business cooperation.
