Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Austin Fernando requested the Andhra Pradesh State Government to support and facilitate the expansion of Sri Lanka’s investment “Brandix Apparel City” located in Vishakhapatnam, and liaise with Sri Lanka to develop tourism both ways. The High Commissioner made these requests when he called on the Governor of Andhra Pradesh Biswa Bhusan and the State’s Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during his visit to the State of Andhra Pradesh from 9-11 August 2019.
During the meetings, High Commissioner Fernando reiterated the long standing relations between Sri Lanka and India and stressed the need for further enhancing ties with the State of Andhra Pradesh related to business and tourism, specifically inbound tourism related to Buddhist pilgrims.
While in Andhra Pradesh, the High Commissioner participated in the “Diplomatic Outreach Event on Economic and Investment Opportunities in Andhra Pradesh”, held in Vijayawada on 09 August 2019. The event, organized by the External Affairs Ministry of India in association with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, was attended by representatives from forty countries. Singapore, South Korea, Estonia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland and Uganda were among the participating countries. Senior Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the State Government of Andhra Pradesh as well as the media were also in attendance.
On the sidelines of the event, High Commissioner Fernando also had a meeting with the State Minister of Industries, Information Technology, Textiles & Investment, Gowtham Reddy on the existing investments from Sri Lanka in the State of Andhra Pradesh and the scope for further expansion. State Minister Reddy acknowledged the significant investment made by Brandix Lanka, creating a substantial number of employment across the State. The Minister wanted the High Commissioner to convey his interest of increasing the number employed in the Brandix Complex to 40,000.
The High Commissioner was accompanied by Minister (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi Upekkha Samaratunga to the outreach event and the meetings.
