Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Saturday, 16 August 2025 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata (left) with Labour Minister/ Economic Development Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha at the kick-off meeting to launch the Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment
Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata on Thursday (14) has called for a more transparent, predictable and non-discriminatory business environment for Japanese companies operating in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the kick-off to the first Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment meeting, the Japanese Envoy pointed to three basic elements for a good business environment: transparency, predictability, and non-discriminatory treatment.
“Transparency means the relevant laws, regulations, and policies are very clear without leaving room for any misunderstanding or ambiguous interpretation,” Isomata said. “Predictability means any changes to these laws, regulations and policies should be announced well in advance so that the business operators can make timely adjustments,” he said, adding: “Non-discriminatory treatment means all the companies and individuals are treated equally so that fair competition is fostered.”
“All of these will help investors make decisions on new and renewed investments. I sincerely hope that this newly-established committee will be held quarterly to find genuine solutions to concrete problems that the Japanese investors are facing in Sri Lanka,” he pointed.
The kick-off meeting to launch the Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment was held at the Board of Investment (BOI) and attended by Labour Minister/ Economic Development Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha and Ambassador Isomata, followed by the first committee meeting.
The Embassy of Japan, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and the relevant Japanese companies operating in Sri Lanka on the Japanese side, and the relevant Sri Lankan authorities including BOI on the Sri Lankan side attended this first meeting, “which aims to address issues that Japanese companies in Sri Lanka are facing through an in-depth discussion at the working level.”
An annual Japan-Sri Lanka Government-Private Joint Forum, co-organised by the Embassy of Japan, JCCI, BOI and other relevant Sri Lankan authorities had not convened since 2019 due to the pandemic and economic crisis. The new initiative is meant to fast track addressing the issues faced by Japanese firms.
The Embassy said that in his address, Dr. Jayantha emphasised the importance of new investments in energising the production process and improving the business environment, and echoed the three important elements pointed out by Ambassador Isomata for a good business environment and reaffirmed the strong commitment of the Sri Lankan Government to attract foreign investments and to develop our bilateral relationship further.
