The Government is prepared to proactively support important investments, as it will truly transformative investments into many other sectors, and boost a rapid economic growth to double the national output, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today (07) at the Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2021.

"My Government has ambitious plans to unleash a decade of transformational and rapid economic growth to double our national output from its current level to $8,000 GDP per capita by 2030," he said. President Rajapaksa said that the Government of Sri Lanka is proactive and pro-business. "We will look very favourably upon investments that can have a transformative impact on our economy as well as our national profile, and we will do our utmost to create an enabling environment for the success of such investments," he stated. He revealed that Sri Lanka's unique geostrategic position, political stability, robust institutions and social infrastructure, educated and capable workforce, and high quality of life are some of its current strengths. "Equally importantly, you will be able to connect directly with policymakers at the highest level, as well as technical experts, project owners, and potential partners who can support your investment ambitions in Sri Lanka," he said. The President stated that significant improvements to Sri Lanka's infrastructure are continually being made. These include increasing power generation from renewable sources, improving connectivity through upgrading of road and rail networks, and further expansion and improvements to our ports that will all facilitate the development drive. "We are deeply committed to maintaining policy stability and consistency within a stable macroeconomic environment. Our legal and regulatory frameworks are being refined to ensure greater responsiveness, transparency, and security for investors. Unnecessary bureaucratic red tape is being removed and procedures are being streamlined to ensure greater ease of doing business," he stressed. With regards to the Port City, the President said that his vision is to make the Port City a key service hub for one of the fastest growing regions in the world. "Its residents will have all the facilities they need to do productive work, while enjoying a very high quality of life in a vibrant tropical beachside environment that fuses the best of both old and new," he said He also encouraged business leaders from all nations to make full use of the unique strengths and many opportunities that the Port City affords by investing here. Speaking further, the President said, "With climate change becoming an increasing threat to food security the world over, we seek to combine our rich heritage with new technological advances to dramatically and sustainably enhance our agricultural output." The President expressed his confidence that in the future, Sri Lanka can supply high quality agricultural produce to health conscious, demanding consumers in the region. "We now stand on the cusp of a national transformation that can not only uplift Sri Lanka but have positive impacts on the entire region while creating tremendous value for investors across multiple sectors and through diverse instruments," he concluded.