Prime Minister Meets Representatives of Indian Business Associations in New Delhi

19-Oct-2025

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During her first official visit to India as Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi on October 16.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and exploring opportunities for collaboration in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, fintech, AI-driven trade development, skill enhancement, innovation, health tourism, fertilizer production, and port development.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to building an inclusive, knowledge-based economy through education reform, digital transformation, and skill development. 

She explained that Sri Lanka’s new education and innovation policy framework prioritizes artificial intelligence, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, and competency-based learning, aiming to prepare a future-ready workforce.

She invited Indian industries to expand their engagement with Sri Lanka, particularly in manufacturing, infrastructure, edtech, and renewable energy. She also proposed enhanced cooperation in AI and innovation, vocational training, and education technology, emphasizing the need for collaborative learning models.

The discussions also covered agricultural innovation systems, fertilizer technology, health tourism initiatives, and fintech development to strengthen Sri Lanka’s financial ecosystem.

The Prime Minister pointed out Sri Lanka’s strategic focus on developing the digital economy, targeting the creation of 200,000 skilled professionals by 2030, achieving USD 5 billion in digital service exports, and reaching a USD 15 billion digital sector target.

She highlighted the importance of private-sector cooperation to achieve these goals and reaffirmed that both countries share a longstanding bilateral relationship rooted in mutual respect and collaboration. Expanding bilateral trade and investment, she noted, is central to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and sustainable development agenda.