Sri Lanka has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and will have the fastest growing economy in South Asia next year, said visiting State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Kasuyoshi Akaba.

The Japanese Minister expressed his deepest appreciation to the Government of Sri Lanka for hosting him and his delegation. He agreed that there was a pressing need to develop avenues to enhance FDI inflows from Japan to Sri Lanka. Present at the forum were all Japanese companies which are members of JCCISL based in Sri Lanka and operating under the BOI, leading State agencies such as Finance Ministry, Power and Energy, immigration, Inland Revenue, customs and the Japanese Embassy and other Japanese agencies such as JETRO and JICA.

At the forum, a wide range of subjects of interest to Japanese investors in Sri Lanka were discussed in the areas of labour relations, taxes, electricity tariffs, immigration issues, BOI approvals and government information available to investors.

Many of these matters were discussed in detail and solutions were found to resolve such issues in a speedy manner. In this regard the Sri Lankan state agencies extended their co-operation to the maximum extent.

The meeting was conducted in a cordial manner. Minister of Investment Promotion, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana also addressed the event.

Minister Abeywardana briefed Minister Akaba on Sri Lanka's considerable potential for investment, and also expressed confidence that Japanese FDI will grow over the next few years. He added that Japanese investment would increase productivity in the country and also the financial sector.