Going for German goodies!

By Uditha Jayasinghe 

For the first time in 43 years a Sri Lankan Head of State will undertake a visit to Germany today where President Maithripala Sirisena and his delegates will upgrade relations, appraise Germany of the political changes achieved locally and seek investment opportunities including discussing assistance to regain GSP+. 

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told reporters ahead of the planned visit that the delegation will focus on investment in the automobile, pharmaceutical and, BPO industries as potential avenues for investment. Sri Lanka also hopes to improve tourists from Germany. Currently Germany is the fifth largest source of arrivals to Sri Lanka and among the best spenders and the Government hopes to boost the numbers. 

“We are trying to show just how much Sri Lanka has changed. Sri Lanka has strengthened its democracy and we want to show the world that we are an attractive destination for investment,” he said adding the Government would coordinate with Germany to improve its engagement with the European Union as a precursor to formally applying for the GSP+ facility.    

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier extended assistance to Sri Lanka to regain GSP+ during a visit to the country last September. During his visit Steinmeier invited President Sirisena to visit Germany, which is the first such tour undertaken by a head of State to Germany in 43 years. The visit comes as Sri Lanka readies to formally apply for the resumption of the GSP+ trade facility following months of preliminary assessments. 

President Maithripala Sirisena will also have key talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of Austria Heinz Fischer during his visit. Both countries are expected to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation. Germany is one of the economically powerful member States of the European Union and one of the largest export economies in the world.

During his visit to Germany, the President is also expected to secure economic and development benefits for Sri Lanka, the President’s office said in a statement ahead of his tour. A special ceremony will also be held under the patronage of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to welcome the President on 17 February.

President Sirisena is scheduled to visit the German Parliament and meet its representatives. Subsequent to that, the President is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the German Foreign Minister. 

A special discussion between the President and the German Economic Affairs Minister is also scheduled to be held. After concluding the two-day visit to Germany, the President will leave for Austria on 19 February.

The President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, will welcome the President during the second leg of his tour. Sirisena is expected to have talks with a high level Austrian delegation including with the Austrian President. During the visit to Austria, the President is also scheduled to meet the Austrian business community. The aim of the tour is to further collaborate and strengthen relations between the two countries.

The Cabinet last week approved a slew of agreements to be signed during President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to Germany, where the Government is expected to push for increased engagement for economic growth.

During the Cabinet meeting held last Wednesday, members approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lanka and the German Association for Small and Medium-scale Enterprises. A second South Asia Institute affiliated to the Heidelberg University of the Federal Republic of Germany and German Academic Exchange Service has also been proposed.