Monday Dec 23, 2024
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Friday, 17 February 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Charumini de Silva
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday said that following Alibaba Founder and Chairman Jack Ma’s interest in investing in Sri Lanka, the Government is working towards discussions with the world-renowned businessman.
“I got a call from the Chinese Ambassador yesterday (Wednesday) that he (Jack Ma) has expressed his interest in Sri Lanka. I extended our willingness to get him at any time in Colombo or to meet him when we are next in China,” Karunanayake told journalists in Colombo.
World-famous Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Founder and Chairman Jack Ma conveyed his interest during a meeting with Finance Minister Karunanayake held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2017 in Davos, Switzerland last month.
“We are trying to meet him before September or October because we need players like Jack Ma — they are revolutionary,” Karunanayake added.
The Minister said the Government received a good response for Sri Lanka in terms of investments during the discussions it had in Davos and it hoped to attract more foreign investments in the future.
Founded in 1991, Alibaba’s gross annual income exceeds $ 10.33 billion. The total assets of the company are about $ 52.97 billion.
According to ratings released by Forbes magazine, Ma has been chosen as the 33rd businessman among the world’s richest people in 2016. Ma owns assets worth roughly $ 20.5 billion and is the second-richest person in China.
