RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Colombo, in cooperation with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) of Egypt, organized the Roundtable Discussion on the Egypt–Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Dialogue on Wednesday October 14 at Shangri-La Colombo. The event brought together prominent business leaders and key representatives of Sri Lankan institutions to explore investment opportunities, strengthen business-to-business engagement, and enhance bilateral economic and investment cooperation between Egypt and Sri Lanka.
The roundtable was attended by H. E. Ahmed Helal, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Sri Lanka; Walid Anwar, Vice Chairman of GAFI; Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB); and Ms. Upekha Nakandala, representing the Investment Promotion Office of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), alongside prominent business representatives from various economic sectors.
In his remarks, H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Helal underscored the importance of strengthening economic ties between Egypt and Sri Lanka and expanding opportunities for mutually beneficial investment partnerships. He highlighted the role of sustained dialogue between public institutions and the private sector in translating the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries into concrete economic outcomes.
Walid Anwar, Vice Chairman of GAFI, highlighted Egypt’s commitment to attracting foreign investment and fostering an enabling business environment for international investors. The discussions provided an opportunity to explore areas of mutual interest and encourage Sri Lankan companies to consider Egypt as a strategic destination for investment and as a gateway to wider regional and international markets.
A key component of the programme was a presentation by Ms. Reem ElKhadi, Country Manager of GAFI for the Asia Region, outlining the investment incentives, facilities, and support mechanisms available to investors in Egypt. The presentation provided participants with insights into Egypt’s investment environment and the opportunities available to Sri Lankan businesses seeking to expand their international presence.
The roundtable also featured three success stories from companies with established business operations in Egypt: Teejay, Hirdaramani, and Naturub. Their experiences highlighted the practical dimensions of investing and operating in the Egyptian market, offering valuable perspectives to participants interested in exploring similar opportunities. These business cases further demonstrated the potential for Sri Lankan enterprises to expand their regional footprint through investment in Egypt.
The participation of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka reinforced the importance of institutional cooperation in facilitating investment promotion, connecting businesses, and identifying areas for future collaboration. The exchange of views among government representatives, investment promotion agencies, and private-sector stakeholders helped identify avenues for deeper engagement and the development of sustainable business partnerships.
The Roundtable Discussion marked another step towards strengthening Egypt–Sri Lanka economic relations, with a shared emphasis on promoting investment, encouraging private-sector collaboration, and creating new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and GAFI reaffirmed their commitment to continuing engagement with their Sri Lankan counterparts and the business community to advance bilateral investment cooperation and transform the opportunities identified through the dialogue into tangible partnerships and investments.
