Maldives to enhance cooperation with Sri Lanka in boat building

The government of Maldives and Sri Lanka are to enhance mutual cooperation in the field of ship and boat building.

During a virtual meeting held between the National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM) and representatives of the Sri Lanka Boat and Ship Building Industry on Monday, discussions were held on enhancing mutual cooperation in the field of Ship and Boatbuilding industry between Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The meeting was hosted by the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka and was an initiative of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Maldives.

Additional Secretary at Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, P.M Amza described the meeting as a landmark event to boost the collaboration between Maldives and Sri Lanka, in exchanging resources and knowledge that would lead to greater physical engagement “to conquer the world together”.

With this being said, he added that the cooperation would be mutually beneficial to both countries as well as being a priority to further solidify the economies and boost existing bilateral ties for both countries. He stated that an effective agreement between the counterparts would prove to be beneficial for the sectors.

Chithranjali Dissanayake, Director General of Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB), revealed that the collaboration towards a more sustainable partnership in the industry will be further energized with the initiative, noting that the EDB’s current focus is the “Boat Show 2021” slated from October 25 – 29.

Noting that Sri Lanka has taken steps to enter the nautical tourism, Dissanayake stated that collaboration in the field will prove to be significant to meet partners, globally.

With this being said, she urged the boating industry in the Maldives to register and participate at the “Boat Show 2021”, which will pave way for more interactions.

Further, NBAM President Ahmed Afrah shed light on the links between the boating industry and the tourism sector of Maldives, with the association’s main focus being to develop the boating industry in a way that ensures economic and social development aspects.

Afrah went on to shed the spotlight on the many initiatives by NBAM in this regard, recommending to establish an agreement to support and share expertise in the areas of mutual interest.

Also speaking at the event, Gamini Herath, Managing Director of Boat Building Technology Institute of Sri Lanka (BBTI) shared the institute’s focus on promoting Sri Lanka as a “boat building hub” in the South Asia region.

The meeting also saw proposals to have joint ventures in the industry to facilitate better investment and business engagements. Participants of the meeting agreed on working to draft an agreement on the industry for closer cooperation and taking the ties to newer heights.

The meeting was also joined by senior Foreign Ministry officials, executive members of NBAM, those at the Export Development Board, representatives of the Colombo Dock Yard and executives of the Sri Lanka boat and shipbuilding industry..