Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia and ASEAN Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, engaged in a productive meeting with Chairwoman of the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) Shinta W Kamdani, on 18 August 2023, at the APINDO headquarters.
During the discussion, Ambassador Colombage highlighted several key points including; the prevailing economic situation in Sri Lanka, opportunities for investment in Sri Lanka, especially in the Colombo Port City, pharmaceuticals, and fabric manufacturing sectors and investments made by Sri Lankan companies in Indonesia. He invited Indonesian companies to participate in procurement notices from Sri Lankan entities and encouraged collaborative efforts in enhancing bilateral trade, including the organization of B2B meetings. Ambassador also invited APINDO members to attend the "Boat & Marine Show 2023" and "FACETS Sri Lanka International Gem and Jewellery Show."
Discussions also centered around potential employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in Indonesia and the status of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Sri Lanka's interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and becoming a Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) of ASEAN.
Chairwoman Kamdani stated that the Indonesian Government encourages inbound investment and expressed APINDO's dedication to fostering business matchmaking sessions between both countries' company representatives. Furthermore, APINDO's keen interest in the Blue Economy was emphasized, particularly the exploration of aquatic-deriven food sources.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen economic ties and collaboration between Sri Lanka and Indonesia for mutual prosperity.
The meeting was attended by distinguished participants, including, Chair of International Relations Catharina Widjaja and Vice Secretary-General of APINDO Hendra Widjaja, alongside representatives from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jakarta;, Second Secretary (Commercial) Heshani Premathilaka, and Public Diplomacy Officer Nurul Azizah .
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Jakarta
22 August 2023
