BOI facilitates Japanese investors at meeting with Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Board of Investment 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 eighth 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 Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Chairman Upul Jayasuriya and included Director General Duminda Ariyasinghe and senior officials of the BOI and also officials of other key state agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, the Labour Department, the Inland Revenue Department, Airport and Aviation Services, Sri Lanka Customs and the Department of Immigration and Emigration. 

Japanese organisations represented at the meeting were the Japan joint operated Colombo Dockyard, Taisei Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Kaihatsu Management Consulting Lanka and JETRO.

Discussions covered a wide range of matters, such as salaries paid to the staff of enterprises, the current status of taxes, residence visas, the 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 the BOI is able to assist existing Japanese investors by addressing their requests.