🇱🇰🤝🇧🇩 SL-BD Boost Trade, Investment & Connectivity

• The 4th Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations concluded in Colombo, focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, connectivity, and various sectors including tourism and digital economy. • Economic/Support: Sri Lanka acknowledged Bangladesh's timely assistance of US$ 200 Mn provided during the 2022 economic challenges. • Investment Exchange: Bangladesh invited further SL investment in its EPZs/SEZs, specifically in high-potential sectors like pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and ICT. Sri Lanka invited BD investors to participate in SL's development projects, logistics, cultivation, and tourism-related businesses. • Trade & Connectivity: Both sides emphasized expediting finalization of pending legal instruments and streamlining the pharmaceuticals product registration process. They agreed to explore strengthened shipping links, including potential port connectivity between Chattogram and Colombo. • Sectoral Focus: Key cooperation areas include Green Tourism, joint Tea/Buddhist tourism circuits, sharing expertise in deep-sea fisheries and agriculture, and a proposed Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Tech Corridor for digital innovation. • Other Agreements: SL will increase annual training slots for Bangladeshi nurses. Discussions covered enhanced cooperation in education, youth development, and strengthening regional ties via SAARC, BIMSTEC, and IORA.