Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka hosted the annual Japan-Sri Lanka Government Private Sector Joint Forum for existing Japanese Companies based in Sri Lanka and operating projects under the BOI regime. This is the 8th such Forum where the BOI is hosting Japanese enterprises.
The Forum is an ongoing process whereby Japanese investors meet BOI regularly and discuss ongoing matters to ensure that Sri Lanka offers the most investor friendly conditions to existing Japanese companies.
The Japanese delegation was led by Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Kenichi Suganuma, who also acted as the main spokesman for the group.
The Sri Lankan side was led by Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Upul Jayasuriya, and included Deputy Director General Duminda Ariyasinghe, senior officials of the BOI, and officials of other important state agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, The Labor Department, The Inland Revenue Department, Airport and Aviation Services, Sri Lanka Customs and the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
The Japanese organizations represented at the meeting were Colombo Dockyard, Taisei Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Kaihatsu Management Consulting Lanka and JETRO.
The discussions covered a wide range of matters, such as salaries paid to the staff of enterprises, current status of taxes, residence visas, status of the power supply and road network, internet services and matters relating to the port. On many of these issues a consensus was reached between the Japanese enterprises and the Sri Lankan side.
Through this comprehensive mechanism of facilitation BOI is able to assist existing Japanese investors by addressing their requests.