The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka together with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing organized an Investment Forum and an Exhibition Booth at the First China Overseas Investment Fair that was held at the China World Trade Centre in Beijing from 3-4th November 2009.

The First China Overseas Investment Fair was sponsored and directed by the National Development and Reform Commission and hosted by the First China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association. This event was fully endorsed by the Chinese Government with the objective of encouraging Chinese nationals and private companies to Go Global

Over 2000 Investment Promotion Agencies from China and other countries, International and regional economic organizations, Foreign Chambers of Commerce and associations, leading Investment Banks, Financial Institutions, service agencies such as accounting and law firms and Fortune 500 Companies, Leading Chinese State and private sector enterprises and diplomatic missions representing over 120 countries participated at this event. Many had Exhibition Booths at the China Overseas Investment Fair to create awareness about the opportunities they offer investors as well as incentives and investment policies.

One of the 20 countries that organized a forum was Sri Lanka whose theme was "create win-win situation and promote China Overseas Investment Cooperation ". The Sri Lanka Investment Forum’s session hosted over 125 Chinese Companies which was presided over by H E The Ambassador for Sri Lanka, Karunathilleke Amunugama .

Making the opening remarks H E the Ambassador assured the gathering by saying that Sri Lanka is a perfectly safe environment to invest since the end of conflict and that Chinese investors will be operating in a vibrant economic climate.

This position was endorsed by Mr Jiang Quinzhen , a former Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka by who began his address in fluent Sinhala and who expressed his deep love and gratitude to Sri Lanka. Mr. Jiang related to the Chinese investors his unforgettable experience in Sri Lanka encouraged them to invest "in the beautiful Island".

A M C Kulasekera, Deputy Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka went on to elaborate by stating that the Chinese overseas investment could assist Global Economic recovery and especially the economies of developing counties recover from the financial crisis. Outbound investment from China in overseas markets has grown significantly in recent years, in contrast with traditional major investors such as the United States and European countries whose investments overseas had declined in the same period. China is stepping up its overseas effects despite the economic recession world wide"

He added that the Chinese overseas investment has increased by over 350% during the first half of the 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. According to the World Bank the Chinese economy will become the second largest in the world by 2015 and the number one by 2021. China continues to be the top investment destination of the world and received nearly US$ 92 Bn FDI during the year 2008.

Having emphasized China’s importance as a targeted market for both inward and outward investment, Kulasekera then made a detailed presentation on Investment policies and incentives offered by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the various investment opportunities available for potential Chinese investors in Sri Lanka.

During the Question and Answer session which followed, unprecedented interest were shown by the audience who posed many questions and wanted to know more about the operating environment and infrastructure projects available for investment. In addition interest was shown in setting up projects in Rubber based industries, in setting up a World Class Taxi Service, in the Hotel Industry, in Sugar cane cultivation and manufacture of sugar, Power generation, Telecommunication and IT sectors.

It was also proposed that a delegation from Light Industry Association of China visit Sri Lanka during end-November to explore Investment opportunities in a variety of sectors including the assembly of bicycles and manufacture of components, in addition to other light engineering products. There was also interest expressed on the part of other Chinese companies to undertake business visits to Sri Lanka to ascertain the possibility of starting projects in the country.