As a direct continuation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s successful official visit to Germany, the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka convened a follow-up meeting with representatives of German companies and investors operating in Sri Lanka on July 14 at the BOI. The meeting aimed to build on the momentum from the 13th June Business Forum with President Dissanayake held at the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) in Berlin focusing on strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties.

This follow up session was chaired by BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath and included the BOI Director General, Senior officials from the BOI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representatives from AHK Sri Lanka, and other key stakeholders. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Varuni Muthukumarana, joined virtually. Discussions aimed at advancing actionable steps to attract German investment, address sector-specific concerns, and improve institutional collaboration.

Martin Klose, Chief Delegate of AHK Sri Lanka, thanked the BOI and emphasized Germany’s growing interest in sectors like energy, logistics, manufacturing, tourism, and digital transformation. He highlighted that over 30 major German firms had participated in the Berlin forum and praised Sri Lanka’s ongoing reforms and investment potential. Stressing continuity, he viewed this meeting as key to transforming dialogue into tangible outcomes, reaffirming AHK’s commitment to bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Muthukumarana commended Mr. Klose and the AHK team for their work in promoting Sri Lanka’s participation in key Trade Fairs and for leveraging political platforms, such as bilateral consultations and major events like the Munich Security Conference, which serve not only as diplomatic venues but also as influential forums for business leaders. 

Chairman, BOI emphasized the highly successful business forums held in Berlin, which yielded strong outcomes and valuable partnerships, and the strong expressions of support received from the German President and key ministers during the President’s official visit to Berlin. He mentioned the business engagements, stating that the first was a focused roundtable discussion on Tourism Sector, bringing together 22 German stakeholders to explore avenues for enhancing Sri Lanka’s appeal and competitiveness in the German travel market. He emphasized the need to strengthen the human capital in hospitality, including the recruitment and training of German-speaking tour guides, as well as improving service quality across the sector. Long-term visas for retirees, CSR and eco-tourism partnerships, and infrastructure such as advanced digital booking systems for high-traffic areas like Yala National Park and scenic train routes were also identified as a priority during the discussions.

Mr. Herath promoted Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic and political stability, positioning it as a hub for German Auto Component manufacturers. With duty-free access to over 4,200 products under the Sri Lanka–India Free Trade Agreement and proximity to India’s $21 billion auto export market, Sri Lanka offers competitive advantages in location, workforce, and logistics.

The Chairman, BOI also noted German interest in projects like Continental Express’s (Eu-Retc- Manufacturing of tyre) expansion of BOI-approved operations, TUI Group’s proposed Hotel, a Youth Hostel in Hiriketiya targeting German travelers, and a Pilot Training Academy by Grob Aircraft.

The successful presidential mission to Germany, combined with this timely BOI-led follow-up meeting, signals a promising new chapter in Sri Lanka–Germany economic relations, founded on mutual trust, shared vision, and sustainable growth.