BOI hosts delegation of Japanese multinationals
View(s):The Board of Investment (BOI) recently hosted a delegation from the Kansai region of Japan which consisted of many Japanese multinational companies.
The delegation, on a fact-finding mission, was led by Masuyuki Matsushita, Vice Chairman and Chairman International Committee of Kansai Economic Federation, Kankeiren and also Vice Chairman of the Board of Panasonic Corporation.
The delegation also comprise senior executives of the Kansai Economic Federation, representatives of JICA, as well as well-known Japanese corporations such as Takenaka Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Dailan Industries and Mitsui and Co. Also present at the meeting was Ms. Ruwini Dharmasiri, Chairperson – Waste Management Authority.
In a media release, the BOI said its Chairman Upul Jayasuriya welcomed the delegation saying they were looking forward to more Japanese investments in Sri Lanka with the country being more business friendly and engaged in efforts to move up in the ‘Doing Business Index’.Kaizo Tsuchiya, JICA Advisor to BOI, said, “The BOI can provide Japanese businessmen with the best information and also it has very strong ties with all Sri Lankan line agencies”.Meanwhile the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce signed an ‘Agreement of Cooperation’ with the Japanese grouping to promote 2-way commercial ties. The agreement’ was signed when the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce together with the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Cooperation Committee participated in a roundtable meeting with the visiting delegation.
Under the agreement, both sides will ‘Exchange Information’ pertaining to economic and business trends in the two countries, cooperate in the areas of trade, investment and business, cooperate in the areas of environment conservation and energy-saving and also work on human resources development.
Delegation leader – Mr. Matsushita said Kanzai region has a strong interest in expanding business to Sri Lanka. “We have very clear objectives – to obtain an indepth understanding of the status of fast-developing Sri Lankan economy, her policies towards industries and the latest investment environment and to identify the opportunities to expand business, especially in environment sector,” he said.