Dutch assistance to boost Sri Lanka economy

Netherlands plans to provide Sri Lanka with technical and specialist knowledge according to Netherlands Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Simon Smits.

He said this when he met Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Ministry office on June 15. At this meeting a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in assisting Sri Lanka to construct 467 rural bridges under the programme of building 1,210 rural bridges island-wide to strengthen the rural economy by reducing the gap between the village and town.

Vice Minister Smits is currently on a four-day visit here. He is accompanied by a business delegation comprising representatives of leading Dutch companies.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa also discussed with him on establishing a centre for growing tissues of ornamental flowers, developing livestock resources, expanding the dairy industry with high milk yielding breeds of cows and strengthening environmental conservation. The discussions also focused on improving trade and economic ties and investments. The Dutch Government is already providing this country with infrastructure facilities to improve people’s livelihood.

Other participants in the discussions included the Netherlands Ambassador in Sri Lanka Louis W.M. Piet, Senior Policy Officer of Netherlands foreign Ministry Nicolette Koopman, Netherlands Embassy Senior Policy Advisor(Political) Mahendra Ratnaweera, and Economic Development Ministry Secretary Nihal Jayatilaka.

(Government News Portal)