Investments to flow in:

Lanka poised for bright future

By P. Krishnaswamy

Leading businessman, Honorary Consul General of Mauritius and Vice President of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), D. Eassuwaren told the Sunday Observer that there were signs that the country has a bright future, with foreign investments flowing in after the defeat of terrorism and restoration of security, peace and investor confidence.

D. Eassuwaren

He outlined the important role that the GOPIO, with its membership of 28 million Indian origin people all over the world, can play in bringing future investments into Sri Lanka and what has already been achieved in that direction.

As Consul General of the Mauritius, he expressed his views on boosting the tourist industry and improving tea exports. He also lauded President Mahinda Rajapaksa for declaring that there are no minorities in the country and that all will have equal opportunities.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: You are the Vice President of the Sri Lankan branch of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). Are there moves by the GOPIO to attract investments to Sri Lanka from businessmen and business tycoons representing persons of Indian origin living in many affluent countries?

A: Yes. As a first step we invited the GOPIO-Malaysia. Investors came here and they held a conference attended by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce, business people and the Board of Investment (BoI). We collected a lot of investments. We hope to have the second round of the conference in three or four months which will be attended by more established people.

About 28 million Indian origin persons living in other countries are members of the GOPIO. Either they are citizens of those countries, or hold permanent residence visa or long-term visa. They are doing extremely well in those countries. There are doctors, engineers, businessmen and lawyers. They are very affluent. The GOPIO conference is held once a year in Delhi or Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius or France... wherever people of Indian origin may live.

About three years ago it was held in Malaysia and was attended by GOPIO-Sri Lanka. We requested the business community, including many business tycoons, to invest in Sri Lanka and they gave us one hour to explain the atmosphere of ‘investor confidence’ and other investment opportunities available here. We gave our presentation in that wonderful assembly and there was an excellent response.

This was three years ago when the country was not so stable or peaceful. At that time if we were able to do that, today we can do it 10 times better to create more profound interest. We are getting ready for the next conference and we will make our presentations. There was a conference in South Africa and we explained that the country is now peaceful and stable. A lot of interest was shown and we are trying to get down a trade delegation to Sri Lanka. There is a lot GOPIO can do in bringing investments into our country.

Q: With the three-decade war having been ended by the UPFA Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and peace being restored, how do you see the future economic well-being of the country, especially that of the people of the war-torn Northern Province?

A: The answer to this question is also a question. Can you tell me which Head of State said that there is no minority in the country? Nobody has ever said it. Only President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that. He said that all will have the same opportunities and will live as equal citizens. Tell me, which Head of State had spoken in Tamil or attempted to speak to show that he is President not only to the Sinhalese, but also to the Tamils? I am very confident that the Tamils of this country will be able to live freely, enjoying equal opportunities and prosperity.

The bulk of the Indian origin people depend on the tea sindustry for their livelihood

Q: Mauritius being an Indian Ocean Rim country with a majority of her Government leaders and the population being of Indian origin, it enjoyed close ties with India and received massive economic assistance, investments and other support. The latest reports say that China has now started investing in Mauritius on a competitive level with India and is also extending monetary support. Has there been a change in the policy of the Mauritius Government?

A: There is no change in the policy of the Mauritius Government. The simple reason is that 55 percent of the population is of Indian origin. They rule the country. The Prime Minister and a majority of the ministers are of Indian origin.

So naturally, they will not shift from that focus with India. India in turn has assisted Mauritius in a big way. Whatever they may have wanted, India has been there to help. Most of the time, ministers or other government leaders are in India, negotiating some form of assistance. This situation will not change at all. The population consists of only eight percent of people of Chinese origin. China may have made investments, but that cannot be in a big way.

Q: Mauritius is a world renowned tourist destination earning a major portion of her national income from the tourism industry. What suggestions would you make for Sri Lanka, a much larger country with huge tourist potential, to follow the example of that country to further develop the industry?

A: Our Government has introduced a major change with regard to the immigration policy which is ‘visa on arrival’. This is a very big and significant step towards attracting tourists. It is a very remarkable and bold decision because the moment you tell anybody that you do not require a visa to come to Sri Lanka they are happy. This step throws this country open to anyone passing through the country to any other destination, the Easterners going to the West or the Westerners to the East. They are glad to step in for a couple of days because there is no need for a visa before arrival.

They can have a transit stay for a number of days before continuing to their other destinations. One important thing you will observe in Mauritius is that the tourists feel welcome in that country. The people respect the tourists and they go out of the way to help them so that they feel ‘wanted’. Imagine if you are going to a new country and everybody is showing you the way and saying Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Thank You.

If we can make people feel that the tourists are wanted here, give them a big smile and kind words, that will go a long way in attracting tourists.

We are now expecting a huge number of tourists from India and other neighbouring countries. They should not feel that they are being overcharged.

As regards tourist destinations, we have got wonderful beaches like the one at Pasikudah, Trincomalee and the Casurina in Jaffna. But there are no facilities in these beaches. If you want to have a bath there is no place to change. There are no proper facilities for tourists. Now everybody wants to travel to the North, to Jaffna because until recently all roads were closed and access was denied to them. No doubt, the Government is focusing on promoting hotels. This could be speeded up so that we will have more tourists.

Q: Is the GOPIO also focusing on helping the impoverished Indian origin community of the plantations and uplifting them economically?

A: One of the objectives of GOPIO-Sri Lanka is to improve the education of the plantation sector. But we must remember that if anybody gives assistance to improve the education in the North, East or South, it is assistance to improve the education of the Sri Lankan society . In the plantation sector there is a lack of good education, good teachers and other educational facilities.

GOPIO-Sri Lanka conducted seminars for the O/L and A/L students in difficult subjects such as Mathematics, English and other Science subjects for which there are no proper teachers. We held two-day seminars on Saturdays and Sundays. We got good teachers, paid them provided lunch to the students and held the seminars, three months before the examinations, in many hill country schools. We also hold seminars on ‘Job Opportunities Available’ to A/L qualified students. We give them information that will be useful to them in pursuing their education and getting employment. We give them the details of job opportunities available, salaries and all other details.

Tea industry

Q: In the backdrop of the tea industry being back bone of our economy and the bulk of the Indian origin people depending on it for their livelihood, can you tell us your views on the sustainability of the industry?

A: I am a tea trader. I am a tea exporter. So I can comment on it. Once upon a time we thought India will be a big competitor. But it has been proved that it is not so. The tea of Sri Lanka has got a unique taste and a unique place in the world tea market. So the demand for our tea will always be there. We have got some special facilities which the other Governments have not given to their exporters.

The duty that is payable on the raw materials that are used in the tea bag industry, the facilities that are available when you import these bags etc help the exporter find a better place than the tea exporters and tea bag exporters of other countries. If the Government would give more facilities that will go a long way.

I mean, not in terms of finance, but in terms of allowing and assisting the people who are promoting value addition to tea, then our tea industry will never face a setback. We will be able to sustain our tea industry and the past statistics prove that. Our tea bag exports have continuously increased because the exporters were able to gear themselves to the changes that are happening in the world market.

The Government should give more importance to it after carefully analysing the situation. Tea is 100 percent our country’s product.When one kilo of tea goes out in bulk form it fetches only three dollars. But when tea goes out in the form of a tea bag, the price is three times higher. So the Government should think about what it can do to assist tea exporters to add value to the product.

Mauritius is a renowned tourist destination

Q: Does the GOPIO have any plans to meet the President and the Ministers to discuss matters relating to the Tamil issue?

A: The GOPIO keeps out of politics. But we do have meetings with the Ministers. We invite them to our meetings to discuss problems we encounter in endeavours and we also meet the President if there is any major problem to be resolved.

Q: What do you think is primarily required to promote foreign investments in Sri Lanka?

A: The first thing is security. If there is security and peace in the country, none needs to promote business; business will promote itself. After 30 years peace and security in the country has tremendously improved. When the President is successful in restoring peace and security at all levels, the country will prosper.

People will wait in queues to enter our country to do business with us, because everybody wants to make money. When they know that they can do it comfortably, without any fear, they will come. They have already started coming. Rome was not built in one day. We have been suffering for 30 long years.

Peace has just returned. Don’t expect anything to make a high jump. It has to take its time. Once this confidence is given to the business world, they will pour in. The Stock Exchange is moving dynamically. Firms that have been sluggish have now become active. They are going to run a marathon.