President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake with Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India in the presence of Minister Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism; Sanjiv Puri, Managing Director, ITC and other delegates.
President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, addressed the India-Sri Lanka Business Forum in New Delhi. The event, held during President Dissanayake’s State Visit to India, brought together key stakeholders to explore opportunities for economic collaboration and investment between the two nations.
President Dissanayake reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s readiness to open its markets to India and emphasized the country’s commitment to creating a conducive and efficient environment for businesses. Tourism emerged as a top priority, with the President outlining plans to position Sri Lanka as a premier destination for Indian tourists and investors.
Renewable energy was another focus area, with a call for Indian investment in solar and wind projects to increase the share of renewable energy in Sri Lanka’s energy mix, ultimately reducing electricity costs.
The President also highlighted minerals and mining as a sector ripe for investment, offering significant potential for growth. Additionally, he invited Indian businesses to contribute to the development of Sri Lanka’s digital economy, leveraging India’s leadership in ICT to drive digital transformation across the island nation over the next decade.
Piyush Goyal echoed these sentiments, underscoring the importance of Sri Lanka in India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.
He highlighted several areas for collaboration, including tourism, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals, while also identifying ICT and the film industry as potential sectors for joint initiatives. Goyal emphasized India’s openness to partnerships in higher education, proposing the establishment of Indian university campuses in Sri Lanka and encouraging Sri Lankan institutions to expand their presence in India.
The Forum convened 30 distinguished industry leaders from across India, representing sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, energy, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, automobiles, railways, and finance.
The diverse representation of industries underscored the Forum’s significance as a platform for fostering dialogue, innovation, and sustainable partnerships.
The discussions reaffirmed the shared vision of India and Sri Lanka to deepen economic ties and drive regional prosperity. By aligning their strengths and leveraging synergies, both nations aim to unlock new opportunities and foster a thriving bilateral relationship.
During the India-Sri Lanka Business Forum.
