Sri Lanka Seeks to Attract Foreign Investment, Boost Exports

10 January 2017

The Government of Sri Lanka aims to attract $50 billion in foreign investment in the next 5-10 years to help develop infrastructure, and boost exports to $20 billion by 2020. Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored Sri Lanka's plan to tap into new export markets amounting to $4 billion through free-trade agreements (FTAs) with India, China, and Singapore, and boost demand for its electronics, information technology services, and tourism.

Sri Lanka expects to sign free trade deals with India, Singapore, and China in 2017. The proposed Sri Lanka-India Economic Technology Cooperation Agreement (which promotes freer movement of goods and services between India and Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA, and the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, will form a tripartite trade and investment pact connecting South Asia and Singapore.

Sri Lanka stands to benefit from strong bilateral relations with Southeast Asia members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, in addition to its neighbors in South Asia, underscored Sri Lanka Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Harsha de Silva.


Related Links:

Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Nepal Foreign Secretary and Chairperson of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)...

Read More


The construction of Kokrajhar-Gelephu railway link is set to begin in the first quarter of 2027 and is...

Read More


The Governments of India and Nepal have signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange pre-arrival information on exported...

Read More


The Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal held their Eighth Commerce Secretary Level Meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 13-14...

Read More


The Governments of India and Nepal concluded their 9th Joint Agriculture Working Group meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, on...

Read More


Bhutan has successfully completed its first trial transshipment of cargo through Bangladesh's road network and seaports, on 1...

Read More


The seventh meeting of the Bangladesh–Nepal Joint Steering Committee on Power Sector Cooperation convened in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on...

Read More