A business delegation of the Sverdlovsk Region of the Russian Federation recently paid a courtesy visit to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) and called on BOI Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody, Director General M Weerakone and other top officials.

The objective of the visit is to discuss investment opportunities, the attraction of FDIs from Russia and promote Sri Lankan products and services in Russia, thereby strengthening the economic cooperation between the two nations.

The Russian delegation consisting of 16 delegates arrived in Sri Lanka on January 23, 2023, to participate in the Russia — Sri Lanka Economic Forum scheduled to be held from 23rd to 26th January 2023 in Sri Lanka, organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL). Further, the program is facilitated by the Embassy of Sri Lanka to Russia.

The Delegation consists of 16 delegates inclusive of representatives from the Sverdlovsk regional government, large companies, investors, and education institutes. The Russian delegation is headed by Mr Kozlov Vasily Valerievich, Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk Regional Government.

In addition, Mr Yarin Vyacheslav Yurievich, Minister of International Economic Relations of the Sverdlovsk Regional Government and Mr Tukanova Elmira Nailvna, Director of the Department for the Development of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry of the Sverdlovsk Region are also part of this high-level Russian Delegation.

The close relationship between Russia and Sri Lanka has always been full of vitality. Russia has been a reliable partner and more than a friend to Sri Lanka for decades, being the largest buyer of Ceylon Tea and the leading destination of Sri Lanka. According to the recent statistics of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, 24 per cent of the total tourists arriving in the first three weeks of 2023, are Russian Nationals, which is the highest. Thus, Russia’s contribution towards the socio-economic development of the country is immense and commendable.