Japan confident of Sri Lanka’s Biz climate

Feb 08, 2018 (LBO) - A Japanese business delegation, including chief executive officers and leading officials of some of the largest companies is visiting Sri Lanka to look at future investment opportunities, the Board of Investment said. A delegation of 59 are visiting the island on invitation of the Prime Minister and participated at the Sri Lanka-Japan Economic Forum organized by the BOI at the Shangri-La Hotel, Wednesday. The delegation was led by Dr. Akio Mimura senior advisor, honorary chairman of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation. The delegation represented a wide cross section of the Japanese economy from sectors including heavy industry, automobile, airline, banking, infrastructure, services, energy and machinery.   Japanese investments have had a significant presence in the country for several decades and are an integral part of national economy of Sri Lanka, the statement says. “My impression was that it was a good decision on our part to visit Sri Lanka and indeed we rediscovered the country," Dr. Akio Mimura said. “I also note the high GDP per capita by the standard of South Asia. Also important are the Free Trade Agreements with other countries.” I have come to the conclusion that there is great potential in Sri Lanka and a need to create more awareness in Japan about this country, he added.