Poland-lanka agree on trade delegations
Sri Lanka, being a destination for trade, investment and tourism in the world due to its strategic location, it is the responsibility of Sri Lankan business community, professionals, policy makers and investors to exploit this strategic advantage to speed up development, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.
Minister Rajapaksa made these remarks when he met Jerzy Pomianowski, Undersecretary of State for Oriental Policy of Poland at his Ministry and added Sri Lanka was strategically positioned on the major air and sea routes and Sri Lanka enjoyed peace and stability in the country after nearly three decades.
“There is easy access to the Middle East, Europe and the Far East through Sri Lanka. The country has free trade agreements with India, Pakistan and all south Asian counties. Therefore international traders and investors have taken a keen interest and they are investing and developing trade relation with Sri Lanka,” he said.
Pomianowski said Poland was a high income economy, the sixth largest in the EU and was one of the fastest growing economies in Euro Zone. Polish economic growth rate was one of the best in Europe.
Poland had pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stood out as a success story among transition economies. It was the only country in the European Union to avoid a recession through the 2008-09 economic downturns, he said.
He said he started his Foreign Service career first in Sri Lanka as a
The country has free trade agreements with India, Pakistan and all south Asian counties. Therefore international and investors have taken a keen interest and are investing and developing trade relation with Sri Lanka. -Basil
UNESCO official and participated in research projects in Mahawali area. He said he loved Sri Lanka and he had devoted his time to start a new era of Polish - Sri Lanka relationship as Poland was going through a complete different economic system after ending the decade old socialist economic system.
Sri Lanka was also experiencing a new economic life after ending the 30 years terrorism. Now both countries could enjoy benefits of this new order by improving trade and investments between the two countries, he said.
Pomianowski said Poland was a part of the global tourism market with constantly increasing number of visitors, particularly after joining the European Union.
“Polish people are now reluctant to visit traditional tourist destinations. There is much potential to attract Polish tourists as Sri Lanka is a multi religious, multi cultural country,” he said.
Both parties agreed to exchange trade and investment delegation in order to revive the bilateral relations and review the progress of the new projects between the two countries.
Responding to a question from Pomianowski, Minister Rajapaksa said majority of the Tamil Diaspora gradually understands the real situation of Sri Lanka and they were happy with the outcome of the resettlement and reconstruction works and peace building efforts of the government.