Japanese biz delegation calls on President Sirisena

A group of representatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Economic Mission, which visited Sri Lanka to explore new business and investment opportunities, met with President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s official residence yesterday.

Representing the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a group of 77 members joined in this tour to Sri Lanka. 

During this meeting, President Sirisena recalled the longstanding friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka and the President took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Japanese Government for its assistance in various fields including education, health and agricultural development.  

The President said that he greatly appreciated the friendship extended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe towards Sri Lanka and to him personally during the visit to Japan to attend last year’s G8 Summit.

The President commended the great contribution of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to Sri Lanka, especially towards the development of the country. He also said that as the Sri Lankan Government was looking to increase investment opportunities in the country, the Government was ready to assist Japanese investors at any time with regard to Sri Lanka’s investment opportunities.

In 1979 a group of representatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited the country and this group was the largest set of Japanese business representatives to visit the country after 39 years, following the visit of 1979. 

Team Leader of the JCCI Economic Mission Dr. Akio Mimura said that the Japanese Government expected to explore investment opportunities in many fields, including industry, infrastructure, steel, software, transport and aviation.

He also presented a series of new proposals prepared in this regard to the President.

Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Prof. Dammika Ganganath Disanayake and Japanese Ambassador Kenichi Suganuma were present at the occasion.