State Minister for International Cooperation Susil Premajayantha led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Twelfth Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held in Quito, Ecuador from 20-24 January 2020.
Launched in 2007, the GFMD facilitates an open and transparent dialogue on migration and development, in an informal, non-binding, voluntary and state-led framework that promotes practical, evidence-based outcomes and cooperation between governments as well as non-government stakeholders from all regions and countries at all stages of economic, social and political development. The Quito forum was attended by over 2000 delegates including government officials, Mayors, civil society and business sectors.
The Quito Forum was the culmination of Ecuadorian chairmanship built on an entire year of GFMD activities on three issues, under the overreaching theme of “Sustainable Approaches to Human Mobility: Upholding Rights, Strengthening State Agency, and Advancing Development through Partnerships and Collective Action”.The next GFMD will be hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. The Sri Lanka delegation participated in identified discussions and shared best practices and progress so far made in the implementation of its commitments on recently adopted two Global Compacts on Migration.
State Minister Premajayantha also had discussions on improving trade between Ecuador and Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the forum with Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul Dr Monica Heller. Dr Heller informed there is potential for increasing trade specially in the areas of exporting Sri Lankan Cinnamon and tea. At present, trade between Ecuador and Sri Lanka stands at US$ 33 million.
Secretary Ministry of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations D M Sarath Abayagunawardana, and Additional Secretary (Development) Yamuna Perera, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chairman Kamal Ratwatte, and Additional General Manager D D P Senanayake and Acting Director General Economic Affairs (Multilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Relations Anzul Jhan were part of the government delegation.
