Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has urged South Asian countries to focus on innovation to enhance regional economic cooperation, a government press release stated.
At the first South Asian Trade Fair 2024 at Excel World Colombo Convention Centre Friday, he called for stronger connectivity with neighbouring regional markets such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Gunawardena said that the regional countries with the largest tea industry and other agricultural sectors can establish a platform to enhance trade and investment cooperation.
“The Trade Fair and Business Forum has a larger purpose that goes beyond any individual business or organization’s interest. This is a forum to achieve objectives of promoting socioeconomic cooperation and strengthening trade relations among South Asian countries,” he added.
Gunawardena welcomed investors and trading partners from our South Asian neighbors belonging to SAARC – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Nepal – as well as some observers such as China.