Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne has called upon Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in tourism and agriculture sectors in his country for mutual benefits of the two nations.
"Sri Lanka wants investment from Bangladesh. Sri Lanka is keen to attract investment from Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in tourism and agriculture," he said while paying a courtesy call on President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Jashim Uddin at the apex trade body's office in the capital on Sunday.
The Sri Lankan envoy said his country is offering attractive incentives for foreign investors, including tax holidays.
"Bangladeshi entrepreneurs could benefit by investing in huge uncultivated land in Sri Lanka," he said.
He also sought Bangladesh's cooperation in the development of tourism and shipping sectors of Sri Lanka.
Mr Seneviratne said the Colombo port now has four harbours and is equipped with more modern facilities.
He urged the Bangladeshi cargo ships to go through Colombo.
During the meeting FBCCI President Jashim Uddin highlighted the importance of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries to increase bilateral trade and investment.
"FTA between the two countries would make it easier to increase bilateral trade and investment," he said.
Emphasising on increasing regional trade, he noted that most of Bangladesh's trade is with the United States and the European Union (EU).
"But it is more profitable to do business with neighbouring countries," he added.
Referring to the huge volume of inter-trade in NAFTA and ASEAN, Mr Jashim Uddin said that if SAFTA was implemented, the development of SAARC countries would have been accelerated.
He also emphasised the importance of cooperation in the energy sector among the SAARC countries.
FBCCI Director Priti Chakraborty called for joint initiatives on nursing training between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
FBCCI Vice President Habib Ullah Dawn, directors Shomi Kaiser, Dr Nadia Binte Amin and Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque were also present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com