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Roundtable on Economic Opportunities in Sri Lanka

Speaking Notes  for the Hon. David Kilgour, Member of Parliament (Edmonton Southeast) and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)

World Trade Centre, The Sunlife Building, Suite 600

 Edmonton

May 23, 2003


Hosted by: Mr. Brian M. Cymbaluk

Manager, Marketing and Member Services - World Trade Centre

• Encouraged by your interest

• You’re about to hear from one of Canada’s best diplomats

• 50 years ago, Sri Lanka’s per capita income = Taiwan’s and South Korea’s

• 20 years of civil war

- divided the country

- killed more than 60,000

- damaged the economy

• Cease-fire brokered by Norway over a year ago

- several rounds of face-to-face talks since then

- knew the peace process would be a bumpy road

- LTTE - withdrawn from talks, but hasn’t abandoned cease fire

- hopefully back on track soon

- saw obvious desire for peace during visit

• Peace process has been heavily supported by the International Community

- tragedy of lives lost

- also because of Sri Lanka’s obvious potential (should be “Jewel of South Asia”)

- location

- crossroads of major shipping routes to South Asia and the Far East

- transshipment centre and hub port

- workforce

- 92% literacy rate

- competitive wages

• Need for ‘peace dividend’

- government’s economic reform package:

- market liberalization

- control of public debt

- investment entry

- fiscal incentives

• Unique opportunities for Canadian businesspeople

- long history of goodwill

- Commonwealth (English!)

- Cda-Sri Lanka Friendship Highway from international airport

- over $800 million in development assistance

- even during the war - one of few countries that continued to get aid to the North and East

- domestic expertise and connections

- over 200,000 Canadians of Sri Lankan origin (largest Tamil expat community in the world)

- Shared values

- multiculturalism, two languages
- responsible business communities (i.e. business-led Sri Lanka First
Campaign)

- Success stories

- SNC Lavalin - just completed a feasibility study for a proposed harbour in Hambantota

- $1.75 billion project

- Bell Canada partnered with Lanka Bell

- numerous SMEs in sectors Geetha will outline

- No High Commission will work harder to help you!

 
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