SL can cultivate agri crops for Saudi, says Rishad
May 18, 2011 01:37 pm
Sri Lankan cabinet minister Rishad Bathiudeen, currently on a visit to Riyadh, on Tuesday urged Saudi businessmen to invest in upcoming projects in the island state, which would yield attractive gains.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, who met Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday told Arab News that the end of the ethnic conflict had paved the way for several business opportunities in the country. He added that the promising areas of investment include tourism, garments industry, cultivation of fruits and vegetables, and gem and jewelry.
The minister said that there was a remarkable growth in the number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka after peace was restored following the country’s victory over terror.
Data from the tourist promotion office showed that Sri Lanka’s tourism arrivals rose 43.5 percent in March 2011 to 75,130, with steep increases seen from South Asia and several European generating markets. March arrivals were the highest for a single month since December 2010, when 84,000 visitors came to the island. Last year, Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals rose 46 percent to 654,476 after the 30-year war ended.
“We also can cultivate agricultural crops for Saudi Arabia,” Bathiudeen said, adding that items manufactured in Sri Lanka could find a ready market in all SAARC countries under the existing Free Trade Agreement.
Bathiudeen, who also held talks with Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen, said that his government was interested in exchanging experience with the Kingdom in desalination and water management programs.
The minister will also call on his counterpart, Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza during his Jeddah visit on Thursday. He is also slated to meet senior officials of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Islamic Development Bank during his stay in the Western Province, Arab News reports.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, who met Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday told Arab News that the end of the ethnic conflict had paved the way for several business opportunities in the country. He added that the promising areas of investment include tourism, garments industry, cultivation of fruits and vegetables, and gem and jewelry.
The minister said that there was a remarkable growth in the number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka after peace was restored following the country’s victory over terror.
Data from the tourist promotion office showed that Sri Lanka’s tourism arrivals rose 43.5 percent in March 2011 to 75,130, with steep increases seen from South Asia and several European generating markets. March arrivals were the highest for a single month since December 2010, when 84,000 visitors came to the island. Last year, Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals rose 46 percent to 654,476 after the 30-year war ended.
“We also can cultivate agricultural crops for Saudi Arabia,” Bathiudeen said, adding that items manufactured in Sri Lanka could find a ready market in all SAARC countries under the existing Free Trade Agreement.
Bathiudeen, who also held talks with Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen, said that his government was interested in exchanging experience with the Kingdom in desalination and water management programs.
The minister will also call on his counterpart, Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza during his Jeddah visit on Thursday. He is also slated to meet senior officials of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Islamic Development Bank during his stay in the Western Province, Arab News reports.
