The Embassy of Egypt in Colombo, in collaboration with Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), has hosted a roundtable discussion aimed at strengthening bilateral investment and economic cooperation between Egypt and Sri Lanka.
The Egypt–Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Dialogue was held on Wednesday, October 14, at Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together business leaders, government representatives and investment promotion officials to explore new investment opportunities and strengthen business-to-business partnerships.
The event was attended by Egyptian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ahmed Helal; GAFI Vice Chairman Walid Anwar; Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe; and Upekha Nakandala, representing the Investment Promotion Office of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), along with representatives from several business sectors.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Ahmed Helal emphasized the importance of deepening economic ties between the two countries and expanding mutually beneficial investment partnerships. He highlighted the need for continued dialogue between public institutions and the private sector to translate longstanding bilateral relations into tangible economic benefits.
GAFI Vice Chairman Walid Anwar outlined Egypt’s commitment to attracting foreign investment and creating a business-friendly environment for international investors. He also encouraged Sri Lankan businesses to consider Egypt as an investment destination and a gateway to broader regional and international markets.
A key highlight of the programme was a presentation by Reem ElKhadi, GAFI’s Country Manager for the Asia Region, who outlined the investment incentives, facilities and support mechanisms available to foreign investors in Egypt.
The presentation provided Sri Lankan business representatives with an overview of Egypt’s investment climate and the opportunities available for companies seeking to expand their international operations.
The discussion also featured success stories from three Sri Lankan companies with established operations in Egypt: Teejay, Hirdaramani and Naturub. Their experiences offered practical insights into investing and operating in the Egyptian market, highlighting opportunities for Sri Lankan enterprises to expand their regional and international presence.
The participation of the EDB and BOI underscored the importance of institutional cooperation in promoting investment, connecting businesses and identifying opportunities for future collaboration.
The exchange of views among government officials, investment promotion agencies and private-sector representatives also helped identify potential areas for deeper economic engagement and sustainable business partnerships.
The roundtable marks a further step towards strengthening economic relations between Egypt and Sri Lanka, with both sides emphasizing investment promotion, private-sector collaboration and the creation of new business opportunities.
The Egyptian Embassy in Colombo and GAFI reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement with Sri Lankan institutions and the business community, with the aim of turning the opportunities identified during the discussions into concrete investment projects and long-term partnerships.
