Kazakhstan Today reported that participants of the Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka Business Forum have discussed areas of common interests between the two countries including travel, transport and logistics to increase the current trade between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan.
As per report, the official government news portal of Sri Lanka, President Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev has expressed interest in cooperation in agriculture, transport and energy and especially, in textile industry as Sri Lanka exports all kinds of materials and finished apparel.
Addressing the Business Forum in Astana Minister of External Affairs Prof G L Peiris has said that Sri Lanka is currently diversifying its economy and its exports and also considering setting up joint ventures. He has said that many international investors recognize Sri Lanka as a country with wide opportunities to set up joint enterprises.
The Minister has invited the Kazakh businesses to share their vast experience in the development and production of hydrocarbons to explore oil in Sri Lanka. He has pointed out that Sri Lanka spend about US$ 6 billion on oil imports annually and with crude oil accounting for one-third of the country's imports, and has requested Kazakh businessmen to share their experience in oil-field development with Sri Lanka.
