Sri Lanka Embassy

INVESTMENT

Sri Lanka is strategically located at the crossroads of major shipping routes to South Asia, the Far East, and the continents of Europe and America. Home to one of the Top 25 Container Ports in the World, the country is a key port of call for shipping lines and airfreight services. Further, Sri Lanka’s proximity to the Indian sub-continent positions the country as a gateway to a market of 1.9 billion people in South Asia alone. These factors combined, generate keen interest for Sri Lanka as a preferred investment destination in the region.

Please visit https://investsrilanka.com/ for more details about investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Mega Investment Project: Port City Colombo

Port City Colombo is a brand-new city development built as an extension of the Central Business District of Sri Lanka’s vibrant commercial capital, Colombo. Spanning 269 hectares of reclaimed land from the sea, Port City Colombo will be a premier residential, retail and business destination, offering unmatched planned city living along the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The development comprises 5 different precincts including the Financial District, Central Park Living, Island Living, The Marina and the International Island.

Please visithttps://www.portcitycolombo.lk/for more details about this ready-to-invest project.

Bilateral Relations between Sri Lanka & Belgium in Investments

Sri Lanka and Belgium has been enjoying a cordial trade relation for many years. This relationship has been instrumental in attracting many Belgian investors to Sri Lanka since the 1970’s. The government has relaxed and simplified foreign exchange regulations to attract more foreign investments while expanding opportunities for both local and foreign entrepreneurs and business establishments to invest in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has signed an Investment Protection Agreement and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with Belgium.

Current Investments from Belgium

According to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the total FDIs generated by investments received from Belgian companies in Sri Lanka up to the quarter three of year 2023 was US$ 152.1 million. Belgian companies have invested in Sri Lanka in diversified areas such as diamond cutting, manufacturing of jewellery, rubber-based products, coir products, food processing, IT, and tobacco processing.

Belgian Companies operating in Sri Lanka under the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI):

Source: Board of Investment of Sri Lanka

Target Industry Sectors for Investments

While we welcome investment in all most all areas, the following sectors have been specifically identified by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka to promote Foreign Direct Investment from Belgium.

The sectors were identified on the basis of comparative and competitive advantages available, the need to promote the diversification of the export sector through backward linkages, high technology and value addition.

Ready to Invest Opportunities identified by BOI for Belgian Companies

•  Manufacturing

  • Automotive components

  • Apparel & Textile

  •  Rubber based products/automotive components

  •  Electronic & Electrical components

  • Gem & Jewellery

  • Cosmetics & perfumes

  • Pharmaceuticals

• Information Communication Technology (ICT) & IT Enables Services

  • BPO & KPO

  • Software development

  •  IT training institutes

  •  New technologies

• Agriculture

  •  Food Processing / manufacturing of confectioneries

  •  Agro-processing

  •  Aquaculture 

• Tourism and hospitality

  • Luxury Hotels

  • Recreational activities (theme parks)

  • Adventure/ thrill tourism

  • Agro/Eco tourism

  • MICE Tourism

• Infrastructure/ Construction projects

Links for Useful Trade, Investment & Tourism related Organizations in Sri Lanka: