Lanka, a paradise for UAE investors - Foreign Minister

The United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nayhan, visited Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Government.

During bilateral consultations the Foreign Ministers explored ways of strengthening trade and investment ties, improving the welfare of Sri Lankan workers in the UAE, and collaborating on issues of regional and international concern.

Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera briefed his counterpart on the government's political and economic plans. He said the formation of a National Government would create political and policy stability that would enable the country to address long-unsolved challenges facing Sri Lanka.

Minister Samaraweera said, just as Sri Lanka was a paradise for UAE tourists, the government's objective was to make it a paradise for investors. He invited UAE firms, which are already a significant source of investment for Sri Lanka, to increase their investments, adding that the Government was establishing 45 economic development zones. The Minister said that the 250,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in the UAE make a tremendous contribution to Sri Lanka's economy.

Sri Lanka is committed to increasing the skill level of migrant workers entering the UAE - including domestic workers. Sri Lanka would continue to engage through the Abu Dhabi Dialogue to improve inter-ministerial coordination and cooperation on migrant worker issues - including qualification recognition, he said. The two Foreign Ministers also agreed to hold a Joint Commission in the near future.

Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Employment, Chairman, Board of Investment and Director-General, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and senior officials attended the meeting.The UAE Foreign Minister also called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.