ID :
94880
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 00:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/94880
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA CAN BE SRI LANKA'S TOURISM DRIVER, SAYS HIGH COMMISSIONER
By Prem Kumar Panjamorthy
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has the potential to be the main
driver of Sri Lanka's tourism sector.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia Dr D.D. Ranasinghe, said at
present, Malaysia is the country's top investor.
"It also holds the number one spot in the telecommunications sector," he
added.
Ranasinghe said Malaysia can emulate the international chain of hoteliers
and tour operators, who have established their business operations in Sri Lanka,
realising the opportunities to be grabbed in the country.
"After a 30-year conflict that almost destroyed us, we are now seeing a
record growth in the number of tourist arrivals every month.
"To accommodate these arrivals, we need experts in the tourism sector,
such as Malaysia, to assist in several key areas," he added.
He was speaking to BERNAMA after the opening of the Malaysian Indian
Entrepreneur Forum, here Monday.
The forum was earlier officiated by the Deputy Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department, T.Murugiah.
Ranasinghe also said the Sri Lankan government welcomed Malaysia's move to
help upgrade the infrastructure in the country, which was badly hit in the war
against the Tamil Tiger rebels.
"Not only Malaysia, but countries like China and India, have also come
forward to restore Sri Lanka's infrastructure to its former glory," he
explained.
In a related development, he said Sri Lanka expects an increase in
the annual trade value between both countries.
"This covers both imports and exports between Sri Lanka and Malaysia," he
stated.
Up to 2008, Sri Lanka's exports to Malaysia had increased to US$46
million, compared to a very low US$8 million registered in 2002.
Malaysia's exports also shot up to US$360 million from the US$204
million posted in 2002.
Ranasinghe said palm oil has and will continue to play an important role
in the growth of Malaysia's export value to Sri Lanka.
According to him, this is because Sri Lanka reprocesses the palm oil to
vanasphati, a popular ghee, and later exports it to several parts of India.
The increasing demand for the ghee, has resulted in Sri Lanka requesting for
higher exports of palm oil from Malaysia.
"All this clearly highlights the prospects that both countries have in
further expanding bilateral trade," Ranasinghe said.
He disclosed that interested investors from Malaysia can liaise with the Sri
Lankan High Commission in the country, for more information.
"There is a Trade Commissioner present, to assist Malaysian investors
before they liase with the Board of Investors (BOI), in Sri Lanka," he said.
The BOI filters all applications from investors worldwide.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has the potential to be the main
driver of Sri Lanka's tourism sector.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia Dr D.D. Ranasinghe, said at
present, Malaysia is the country's top investor.
"It also holds the number one spot in the telecommunications sector," he
added.
Ranasinghe said Malaysia can emulate the international chain of hoteliers
and tour operators, who have established their business operations in Sri Lanka,
realising the opportunities to be grabbed in the country.
"After a 30-year conflict that almost destroyed us, we are now seeing a
record growth in the number of tourist arrivals every month.
"To accommodate these arrivals, we need experts in the tourism sector,
such as Malaysia, to assist in several key areas," he added.
He was speaking to BERNAMA after the opening of the Malaysian Indian
Entrepreneur Forum, here Monday.
The forum was earlier officiated by the Deputy Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department, T.Murugiah.
Ranasinghe also said the Sri Lankan government welcomed Malaysia's move to
help upgrade the infrastructure in the country, which was badly hit in the war
against the Tamil Tiger rebels.
"Not only Malaysia, but countries like China and India, have also come
forward to restore Sri Lanka's infrastructure to its former glory," he
explained.
In a related development, he said Sri Lanka expects an increase in
the annual trade value between both countries.
"This covers both imports and exports between Sri Lanka and Malaysia," he
stated.
Up to 2008, Sri Lanka's exports to Malaysia had increased to US$46
million, compared to a very low US$8 million registered in 2002.
Malaysia's exports also shot up to US$360 million from the US$204
million posted in 2002.
Ranasinghe said palm oil has and will continue to play an important role
in the growth of Malaysia's export value to Sri Lanka.
According to him, this is because Sri Lanka reprocesses the palm oil to
vanasphati, a popular ghee, and later exports it to several parts of India.
The increasing demand for the ghee, has resulted in Sri Lanka requesting for
higher exports of palm oil from Malaysia.
"All this clearly highlights the prospects that both countries have in
further expanding bilateral trade," Ranasinghe said.
He disclosed that interested investors from Malaysia can liaise with the Sri
Lankan High Commission in the country, for more information.
"There is a Trade Commissioner present, to assist Malaysian investors
before they liase with the Board of Investors (BOI), in Sri Lanka," he said.
The BOI filters all applications from investors worldwide.
-- BERNAMA
