President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka and India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, addressed the India-Sri Lanka Business Forum in New Delhi on 16th December 2024, during the President’s state visit to India.
In his address, President Dissanayake emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment and announced the country’s readiness to open its markets to India. He highlighted tourism development as a key government priority and invited Indian investment in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, to reduce electricity costs in Sri Lanka. He also identified minerals and the ICT sector as promising investment opportunities, underlining Sri Lanka’s focus on building a robust digital economy.
Minister Goyal reaffirmed India’s support under its Neighbourhood First Policy, emphasizing shared prosperity between the two nations. He highlighted collaboration opportunities in tourism, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, and the film industry. Goyal also proposed partnerships in higher education, inviting Sri Lankan institutions to establish campuses in India while expressing India’s interest in setting up campuses in Sri Lanka.
The Forum brought together 30 prominent industry leaders from India, representing diverse sectors such as tourism, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and finance. This high-level gathering underscored the Forum’s importance as a platform for fostering innovation, growth, and stronger bilateral economic ties.
