Davos platform for investments:

Richard Branson due in Sri Lanka

by Indunil Hewage

Following Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's series of meetings with world business leaders in Davos, Switzerland recently, the founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson was among the top leaders who expressed willingness to invest in Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister met several world leaders and top level global investors on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Among the most successful were the meetings with Chairman of Microsoft, Founder of Virgin Group, Chairman of Tata Group and Global CEO of Philips Lighting Solutions.

Senior officials of the Prime Minister's office told the Sunday Observer that the WEF provided an ideal opportunity to pursue trade and investment opportunities and create the much-needed business links with top level investors across the world.

"Despite the present global economic challenges that directly impact Sri Lanka, remarkable growth in various sectors has been observed," officials said.

The PM held bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Lofven, the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum, Prof. Klaus Schwab and President, Swiss Confederation, Johann Schneider-Ammann, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

Founder of Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson and CEO, Virgin United, Jean Oelwang called on the Prime Minister and expressed their willingness to invest in Sri Lanka's tourism sector. Branson is expected to visit Sri Lanka soon to study the possibilities of investing in the tourism sector.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also met Global CEO, Philips Lighting Solutions, Netherlands, Eric Rondolat, Chairman, Tata Group, Cyrus Misty, Asia Chairman of McKinsey and Company, Kevin Sneader, CEO, Marriot, Arne Sorenson and Chairman, Carlsberg Supervisory Board, Prof. Flemming Besenbacher. He held discussions with the President of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois, on the possibility of entering into a technology agreement to upgrade Sri Lanka's information technology and make technology accessible to youth.

The PM also met Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde.

The Sri Lankan Investment Forum, organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, was held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, to create awareness among global investors of the current status of Sri Lanka's economy, political and investment climate and the government's investor-friendly policies.

Several business leaders and investors participated in the forum.

The Prime Minister who was the chief guest also attended several high-profile events including a session on 'Zero Gap: Financing the SDGs. It highlighted the importance and breadth of the global challenge on long-term investments, infrastructure and development, the role of investors, foundations and international organisations and infrastructure communities in building public-private partnerships to contribute to the development of SDGs coming out of Addis.