SL envoy in talks with Bahrain Industry, Commerce & Tourism Minister to boost bilateral ties

Minister of Industry, Commerce & Tourism of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani, discussing issues of interest and importance with the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Dr A. Saj U. Mendis, at the Ministry in Manama, Bahrain

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr A. Saj U. Mendis, had a call on the Minister of Industry, Commerce & Tourism, Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani, recently, in order to discuss the most efficacious and result oriented courses of action to enhance and to boost economic, commercial, touristic and industrial relations between the two countries. 

The Minister of Industry, Commerce & Tourism, particularly, in Gulf countries including in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is considered as an exceedingly pivotal and seminal Ministry since it plays a critical role in economic and commercial advancement of the country. Ambassador Dr Mendis delineated and accentuated the highly stable political and economic tapestry of the country, after the election of Sirisena Administration in January of last year and the General Elections of August of last year. He added that the country is politically stable, thus creating an idealistic and  sanguine milieu and landscape for promotion of economic, investment, commercial and touristic utility in Sri Lanka. In this context, Ambassador Dr Mendis stated that tourism in Sri Lanka, this year, would reach 2.5 million, given the vast touristic attractions as well as absolute peace in the country. He also substantiated that Sri Lanka has been listed as one of the most sought after touristic destinations in the world by highly noted and globally reputed magazines, journals and electronic media.           

 Ambassador Dr Mendis highlighted the fact to Minister Alzayani that the two countries are yet to exploit and are yet to take the strategic vantage of the vast economic commercial, touristic, investment, outsourcing and industrial opportunities and vistas including but not limited to natural endowments and human resources. Both the Minister and Ambassador agreed that the bilateral trade and commercial activity are still in the vicinity of $ 30 million and foreign direct investments and foreign institutional investments are minimal from Kingdom of Bahrain to Sri Lanka and vice-a-versa. Both the Minster and Ambassador were convinced of the utility and of the potentiality to enhance and to augment the commercial and economic relations with greater and more result oriented cooperation, collaboration, engagement, facilitation and partnership, which would benefit both the countries. Ambassador Dr Mendis also enunciated that Sri Lanka is well and is strategically located in terms of Business Processing and Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Processing and Outsourcing (KPO), Engineering Processing and Outsourcing (EPO) and Financial Processing and Outsourcing (FPO) spheres in order for corporates, companies and industries of the Kingdom of Bahrain to have facilities in Sri Lanka. The Ambassador stated that this course of action would enable the corporates, industries and companies of Bahrain to have direct and easy access to the large market of Indian sub-continent, which today accounts of a population of well over 1.7 billion. On the same note, the corporates and industries of Bahrain could reduce their cost of production, markedly, by outsourcing the facilities to Sri Lanka.

Minister Alzayani added that his country too is eager and is keen to proactively engage with Sri Lanka on her economic, investment and commercial trajectory, thus benefiting both the peoples and both the countries. Minister Alzayani, being a leading corporate captain of a number of companies turned Senior Cabinet Minister of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, added that the two countries have maintained most genial, affable and friendly relations not for decades but for centuries, which would enable the corporate captains, industrialists and investors of the two countries to frankly exchange ideas and propositions and seriously consider committing investments, facilities and projects in both the countries. Ambassador Dr Mendis emphasised the fact that the current Government is tenaciously and aggressively focuses on enhancement and augmentation of economic and commercial diplomacy. Ambassador Dr Mendis further expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, for the opportunities and facilities extended by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in securing a large number of employment opportunities to nationals of Sri Lanka, particularly, semi-skilled, skilled, highly skilled and professional Sri Lankans. The Ambassador also underscored that the Government of Bahrain has extended a highly favorable environment and milieu for Sri Lankans to live and to work, peacefully and comfortably, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, thus mutually benefiting both the countries. Both the Minister and Ambassador agreed that both countries are rapidly developing island states and working closely and constructively with each other would progress and would advance the economy of Sri Lanka as well as would facilitate the economy of Bahrain to become one of the more developed nations in the Region as well as in the world. The Minister and the Ambassador were of firm conviction that widening, deepening and strengthening economic, industrial, touristic and commercial bilateral relations, in all spheres and provinces between the two countries would benefit both the countries.