A special meeting was held on 23rd of October between the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Mr. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, and the Ambassador of the State of Oman to Sri Lanka, Hon.Ahmed Ali Saeed Al Rashdi, at the Ministry.
The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen relations in the fisheries sector between the two countries and open up new opportunities for investment and technical cooperation.
Speaking at the event, the Ambassador explained at length about investment opportunities in Oman, especially the projects implemented through the Oman Investment Authority (OIA). He also expressed his interest in introducing Oman investors to the investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that, "Although we took over a country and a ministry that was facing a severe economic crisis, we are currently taking necessary steps to direct the Fisheries Ministry and the institutions under it on the path of progress. Since Oman is also a strong country in the fisheries sector, we expect their support to improve the fisheries sector in Sri Lanka." The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Government of Oman for the facilities provided to Sri Lankan workers working in Oman.
Participating in this discussion, the Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, explained the possibility of meeting the shipbuilding needs of the State of Oman through the Sea-Nor Foundation operating under the Ministry, and the possibility of starting a Joint Venture for that purpose. He also requested for capacity building and knowledge exchange programs between the Marine Research Institutes of Oman and the NARA of Sri Lanka, as well as support for the aquaculture sector in the country.
The Ambassador also extended a special invitation to the Minister to join an official visit to the Kingdom of Oman with the aim of further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries. Both parties finally agreed to work closely in the proposed areas in the future.
