The 5th Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment Convened and the 1st Sri Lanka-Japan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Export-Oriented Industrial Corridor Development Launched

On 25th August, the fifth meeting of the Japan–Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment was convened at the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka.

Representatives from the Embassy of Japan, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), relevant Japanese companies operating in Sri Lanka, as well as officials from the BOI and other pertinent Sri Lankan authorities, participated in the meeting.

The meeting featured substantive and productive discussions on a range of business and investment-related issues currently affecting Japanese enterprises operating in Sri Lanka. Participants exchanged views on challenges faced by investors and explored pathways for enhancing the country’s business environment, with a view to promoting greater Japanese investment and economic cooperation.

On the same day, 25th August, the first meeting of the Sri Lanka-Japan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Export-Oriented Industrial Corridor Development was launched at the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka.

Representatives from the Embassy of Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), JETRO, JICA, and JCCI, as well as officials from Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development and other pertinent Sri Lankan authorities, participated in the meeting. 

This JWG was established, pursuant to agreement at the Intergovernmental Economic Policy Dialogue held in February of this year, as a working-level framework to support the implementation of the “Conceptual Roadmap on Building an Export-Oriented Industrial Corridor.” At the inaugural meeting, discussions were held on issues in the business environment relevant to operationalising the Roadmap, the priority areas, and the timeline for implementation, among other matters.