Major initiative to attract investment

In the first major post-war initiative to attract both national and international investments to the peripheral regions of Sri Lanka, the Regional Investment Conference, “BizPact”, will be convened in Colombo in June. The Conference is convened by The Business for Peace Alliance (BPA), Sri Lanka’s network of regional business chambers. It seeks to build a unique platform linking big business based in Colombo, international investors and Sri Lankan investors domiciled overseas, together with the small and medium scale businesses and entrepreneurs in the regions throughout Sri Lanka Supported by Government agencies and big business chambers, the BizPact investor programme will be flagged off in Colombo coupled with visits to the regions that will take from 25-29 June 2009. BPA has brought together the high diversity of potential and the resources which would provide opportunities for best financial and social returns while fostering peace and stability in the country.

Besides matching investors and deserving entrepreneurs from the regions, the Conference will provide prospective investors an opportunity for dialogue on policy issues relating to investment in the regions with high level Government officials and first-hand insights into the regions revealing the ground realities of Sri Lankan situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Board of Investment, Sri Lanka Tourism Authority, Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process, National Chamber of Exporters, American Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka are partnering BPA in this Conference. Suresh de Mel, Chairman, BPA maintained that the small and medium scale entrepreneurs (SMEs) throughout Sri Lanka are ready to take advantage of the emerging window of opportunity to rebuild the nation and collaborate with investors using the “bottom up” approach to development.

He added that the “BizPact” program is a long term program designed by BPA. Starting off with the Conference, “BizPact” will provide an opportunity for local and foreign investors to take forward strides in developing the regions of Sri Lanka through joint venture partnerships with the SMEs in the regions.