Luxembourg, Sri Lanka discuss strengthening bilateral ties

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Jean Asselborn

The Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn on Friday paid a courtesy call on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, President’s Media Division said.

The Minister was accompanied with the Delhi-based Luxembourg Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jean Claude Kugener.

During discussions, Minister Asselborn noted that Luxembourg and Sri Lanka are very similar. Both are small countries and just like Sri Lanka has India and China as powerful neighbours, Luxembourg is sandwiched between France and Germany.

The discussion was mostly centred on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

President Rajapaksa was interested in the renewable energy, cargo and financial sector solutions that Luxembourg can offer Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka with its year around sun would really benefit with solar power solutions,” observed the Minister.

“Investors in solar and wind are certainly welcomed in Sri Lanka,” stated the President, “Another good area to explore in Sri Lanka is agriculture. Today, there’s a big market for organic vegetables in the world. The Middle Eastern countries are bid importers. Sri Lanka is an ideal country considering the easy distance to supply to such markets.”

Though he himself is not an expert on the banking sector, the Minister said that Luxembourg is a financial hub and would have much to offer Sri Lanka. Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundara who was also present at the discussion noted that sometimes it is easier to work with smaller entities with regard to financial concerns.

Reiterating his commitment to developing the lives of the people, the President said, “We need commercial investments to come into the country. We do not want money but investments in terms of education, technology, agriculture and industry. The high tech industries can certainly take advantage of our highly trainable workforce.”

The Minister promised to talk to the cargo sector and interest them in investing in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Brussels Grace Asirwatham could certainly facilitate the areas that were just discussed, he said.