September, 7, 2014
Marking the first visit in 24 years by a Japanese Prime Minister, the incumbent Premier Shinzo Abe and First Lady Akie Abe arrived in Sri Lanka this evening with probably the strongest trade delegation to visit the island in recent times, making this another significant feature in the country’s march towards progress.
Among these trade delegations are representatives reportedly from machinery manufacturers and factory builders Hitachi Zosen Corporation, tea producers Kobe Tea Co. Ltd, the Japanese government’s Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
Apart from them the others include the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Japan’s Mizuho Bank, a representative from Kiyomura Corporation belonging to Japan’s prominent Tuna king Kiyoshi Kiyomora, a prominent food manufacturing company ITOCHU Corporation’s Chairman Eizo Kobayashi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Corporation Ken Kobayashi, Chairman of SG Holdings Eiichi Kuriwada and Representative Director at Onomichi Dockyard Co Ltd, Taskashi Nakabe which holds the majority shares in Colombo Dockyard Limited.
Hiroaki Nakanishi CEO of Hitachi Ltd, a representative from Sumitomo Mitsui Construction, Tomo-Digi Corporation Chairman Hidemichi Shirane, a representative from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Chairman of Noritake Co Ltd Hitoshi Tanemura, Chairman of Taisei Corporation Takashi Yamauchi, Chairman of NEC Corporation Kaoru Yano are the others prominent members of this trade delegation.
The arrival of such a heavy-weight trade delegation is expected to bring economic dividends to Sri Lanka.
They attended a trade forum with Sri Lankan business personalities this evening where Minister of International Monetary Co-operation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Sarath Amunugama and Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abetwardene too were present.
On arrival, the Japanese Prime Minister and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone for the Phase 2 of the Bandaranaike International Airport’s arrival terminal.
Japanese Prime Minister who is here on an invitation by President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to Japan in March this year is to sign several trade agreements as well.
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