Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra has underscored Sri Lanka’s keen interest in deepening private sector cooperation with Bangladesh, emphasizing its importance for enhancing bilateral trade and investment.
The remarks came during a meeting with a visiting business delegation from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), led by its President Taskeen Ahmed, held in Colombo, according to an official press release.
Deputy Minister Hemachandra highlighted that Sri Lanka has already signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Thailand and Singapore, and is currently evaluating the potential benefits of a similar agreement with Bangladesh. He invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in Sri Lanka’s growth sectors and assured full government support for such ventures.
Taskeen Ahmed noted that shifting global trade dynamics, driven by evolving geopolitical factors, are opening up new opportunities across South and Southeast Asia. While Bangladesh is a global leader in ready-made garments, he pointed out that Sri Lanka excels in technology, innovation, and value addition, providing a complementary foundation for deeper collaboration.
He also stressed the potential of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance trade, investment, and people-to-people connectivity between the two nations, expressing optimism about joint ventures and mutual investment.
Former DCCI President Rizwan Rahman echoed these sentiments, suggesting that due to the structural similaritiesbetween the two economies, a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) may fall short, and a comprehensive FTA would be more effective in driving growth.
In a separate discussion, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyaperuma highlighted joint opportunities in IT, digital services, pharmaceuticals, tea, energy, financial services, and tourism. He also shared Sri Lanka’s vision to become a fully digital state within two years, encouraging foreign investment in digital infrastructure, including state-of-the-art data centers.
Dr. Suriyaperuma further invited Bangladeshi investors to explore pharmaceutical manufacturing in Sri Lanka, as the country seeks to expand domestic capacity to meet rising healthcare demands.
