State Minister of Finance, Capital Market Cabraal visits Qatar to woo investments

A Sri Lankan delegation headed by State Minister of Finance, Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal visited the State of Qatar from 10-12 April. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Doha organised a series of meetings for the State Minister Cabraal and the accompanying Sri Lankan delegation from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan delegation led by State Minister Cabraal met with State of Qatar Finance Minister Ali Shareef Al Emadi and discussed issues of mutual interest, agreed to examine the ways and means to expand economic cooperation between the two countries and investment opportunities for Qatari companies in Sri Lanka.

The delegation also met with Qatar Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo. During the meeting, the parties reviewed aspects of joint cooperation in the field of labour and social affairs, and ways to support the economic co-operation between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan delegation also met with Qatar Central Bank Governor Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani and Deputy Governor Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani, and discussed modalities to establish and enhance counter-party relationships among financial intermediaries in both countries.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Doha arranged several more productive meetings with the Qatar Governmental dignitaries for the delegation. During the meeting between Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) CEO Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud and the delegation, the discussion centred on investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. 

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker reiterated that Qatar Airways operated daily flights to Colombo even during the COVID -19 pandemic and reassured the long-standing commitment and continued support for furthering the mutual relationship.

The delegation also had a fruitful discussion with LULU Group in Qatar Director Dr. Mohamed Althaf Musliam Veetil. During the discussions, the necessity of boosting longstanding trade relations between Lulu Group and Sri Lanka spanning two decades was highlighted.

In addition, the Sri Lankan delegation had meetings with the CEOs of the leading banks in Qatar, namely Doha Bank and the Qatar National Bank (QNB). During these meetings, QNB and Doha Bank agreed to explore the opportunities in Sri Lanka and to further develop their current business operations in Sri Lanka.

Ambassador M. Mafaz Mohideen participated during the meetings with the Sri Lankan delegation headed by State Minister Cabraal. Central Bank Deputy Governor Dhammika Nanayakara, Superintendent of Public Debt Dr. M.Z.M. Aazim and Director – Economic Research Development Dr. C. Amarasekara of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as well as the Private Secretary to State Minister Darshanie Amarasinghe and Media Secretary R.M.A.W. Rajapaksha formed the rest of the Sri Lanka delegation.