Local investments to exceed $ 2.5 billion this year - Dr.
Amunugama

Dr. Sarath Amunugama
|
The country's economy is set to achieve double-digit growth in the
next couple of years with the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment and
local investments are expected to exceed US$ 2.5 billion this year.
Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister. Dr. Sarath
Amunugama said that Sri Lanka has to gear itself to follow the success
of India to gain the glorious opportunities of having one of the world's
fatest growing economies.
Dr. Sarath Amunugama who was the chief guest at the inauguration
ceremony of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2007 said, "India is on the
verge of surpassing China as the world's fastest growing economy. "
India's unprecedented growth" has been pushing the world economy for the
past five years and is projected to keep going for another decade," he
said.
"We have already signed FTAs with India and Pakistan and are on the
verge of signing another with South Asia. We will be on the cutting edge
of business, he said.
Amunugama said that he would be leaving for Germany next week to
discuss the possibilities of opening a Volkswagen assembly plant for the
Asian market. We must grow with the other South Asian countries, he
said.
"The economy of the Western Province is growing at 9 per cent a year
and within the next 2-3 years is set to reach, around 12 per cent which
is on par with India's economic growth, he said.
He said that the Summit is a perfect opportunity to assess the
advantages and disadvantages of Lanka's economy.
The welcome address of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2007 was
delivered by Mahen Dayananda, Chairman, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Dhammika Perera, Chairman and DG of BOI, Arun Nanda, Chairman, MD,
Rediffusion DY&R, Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala, Co-chairman CCC Convention
Committee, Prema Cooray, Secretary General - CEO of Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce also spoke.
A special message sent by President Mahinda Rajapaksa was read by
Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President. (LSAW) |