Sunday May 31, 2026
Sunday May 31, 2026
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German business leaders and policymakers yesterday identified Sri Lanka as a strategically important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, while urging faster reforms, policy consistency, and stronger investment facilitation to unlock the full potential of bilateral economic ties.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Sri Lankan-German Business Forum 2026 themed ‘Building Trusted Partnerships’ in Colombo, officials from Germany’s business and diplomatic community underscored growing interest in Sri Lanka’s maritime, logistics, renewable energy, and tourism sectors amid shifting global trade dynamics.
German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr. Felix Neumann said Germany was increasingly looking for reliable international partners that shared values of free trade, multilateralism, and predictable governance.
“Germany needs more reliable partners where the same values are shared,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean was becoming increasingly important for East-West trade connectivity.
Dr. Neumann described Sri Lanka as “well-placed” to become a stronger partner for German industry, particularly as global businesses seek to diversify supply chains and reduce overdependence on single markets.
He also noted Germany’s longstanding support for Sri Lanka’s vocational education sector since 1959, saying it had contributed significantly to the country’s skilled labour force.
However, the Ambassador stressed that improvements in ease of doing business, policy consistency, anti-corruption measures, and modernisation of company registration systems remained essential to attract larger foreign investments.
“Predictability is important in doing business,” he said.
Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) Chief Delegate Martin Klose said the Forum aimed to strengthen investor confidence and translate discussions into concrete business outcomes.
“I encourage all of us to engage actively, explore opportunities, and use this platform to strengthen cooperation and investor confidence between our countries,” he said.
Klose highlighted opportunities in maritime industries, logistics, infrastructure, and export trade facilitation, while stressing the importance of turning dialogue into “concrete partnerships and long-term business relations.”
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) Managing Director – International Economic Relations Dr. Nicole Renvert said German companies were increasingly focused on building resilient and diversified supply chains due to geopolitical uncertainty and disruptions to global trade routes.
“Building resilient and diversified supply chains has become vital,” she said.
Dr. Renvert noted that Sri Lanka’s strategic maritime location, skilled workforce, and logistics capabilities offered strong opportunities for German investment, particularly in green technology, renewable energy, energy efficiency, logistics, and maritime services.
She also stressed the importance of “reliable, streamlined, and transparent processes” and stronger vocational training systems to support long-term economic cooperation.
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) Head of Division for South and Southeast Asia Tobias Pierlings said Sri Lanka occupied a key strategic position connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia.
“Reliable and diversified routes have become more vital than ever,” he said, referring to current geopolitical tensions and global supply chain disruptions.
Pierlings said Germany and the EU were positioning themselves as partners for “transparent, long-term, and mutually beneficial partnerships,” while also supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and investment climate reforms.
He also invited Sri Lankan businesses to participate in future Asia-Pacific business forums and investment events in Germany.
German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OVA) Executive Member Almut Rößner said bilateral business relations had gained fresh momentum through recent high-level political exchanges and growing private sector engagement.
“Now is the right time to capitalise on this momentum,” she said.
She highlighted growing German investor interest in sectors such as renewable energy, maritime logistics, infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture, while praising the resilience of Sri Lankan businesses despite recent economic and geopolitical challenges.
Rößner recalled that one of her first overseas visits was to Sri Lanka, joking that “once you check into Sri Lanka, you never check out.”
The Forum brought together 40 German delegates and Sri Lankan business leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore new partnerships and investment opportunities as Sri Lanka continues its economic recovery and reform agenda.(CdeS)
- Pix by Upul Abayasekara
