(Colombo, Lankapuvath) - In keeping with the policy of Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s administration, the Government of Japan will be prepared to engage in the necessary consultations with regard to a Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Mr. Masayuki Naoshima, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry said in Tokyo.

He was responding to a request by visiting Ministers Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, and Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, that Japan should consider entering into a Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka in recognition of the vast opportunities now available in Sri Lanka in respect of investment and trade.

Japan’s Minister for the Economy said that the first-hand impressions of influential Japanese personalities like Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Japan’s Special Representative; Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, and Madam Ogata, Head of JICA, who had a deep understanding of developments in Sri Lanka, were of immense value to the Government of Japan in shaping the current policy.  He assured the Ministers that Japan would enhance assistance to the maximum possible extent in the new stable and peaceful situation prevailing in Sri Lanka.

Ministers Peiris and Rajapaksa explained to him the steps now being taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to move the country forward in every sphere.  Minister Naoshima expressed appreciation particularly about the rapid progress in the resettlement of internally displaced persons.

At their meetings with both Minister Naoshima and Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Sri Lanka’s Ministers of External Affairs and Economic Development thanked Japan for generous assistance given in the construction of Mannar bridge, the Vavuniya-Kilinochchi highway, the hospital in Jaffna, the Upper Kotmale hydro-electricity project and other major development programmes.

The Sri Lanka Business Forum organized by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attracted a large number of Japanese investors and entrepreneurs in a variety of fields. They received from the two Sri Lankan Ministers a detailed presentation about the opportunities available in the country. Particular emphasis was placed on sections like construction, fisheries, the health sector, small and medium scale industry and value addition into agriculture and marketing.

A comprehensive presentation was made by the Ministers to Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Posted on Friday, July 30, 2010 @ 23:25:29 JST by admin