Strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Northern Province of Sri Lanka, opening up many opportunities for local connection

From November 17-19, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam and Embassy staff visited and worked in the Northern province of Sri Lanka.

During the working trip, the delegation paid a courtesy call to Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan; worked with leaders of provincial departments and branches and held a discussion with representatives of the local business community to promote economic and trade cooperation and explore investment potential in the locality.

Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam and the delegation worked with the Governor of the Northern Province and leaders of the provincial departments, branches and sectors.

On November 17, at a courtesy call to the Governor and working with leaders of the province's departments, branches and sectors, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam congratulated the province's achievements in economic recovery and development, ensuring social security and order, implementing social security policies and improving people's lives.

The Ambassador expressed his interest in cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and the province, especially in areas where the province has strengths such as agriculture , aquaculture, livestock, tourism, trade and investment; and at the same time learned about the province's needs and desires for cooperation with Vietnam.

The Ambassador also said that in the context of the good and favorable development of Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations, localities of the two countries need to strengthen connections, cooperation, and support each other to promote potentials and strengths, contributing to the relationship between the two countries.

Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan said that the Northern Province of Sri Lanka is strategically located connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia; has abundant resources, especially fertile land and a long coastline, with many advantages for developing agriculture, livestock, fishing and aquaculture, tourism ; dairy farming and milk processing, especially the locality produces and supplies large quantities of cow's milk to other provinces of Sri Lanka.

The province is currently prioritizing investment in developing industrial parks, special economic zones, and transport and logistics infrastructure to attract foreign investment. Provincial leaders welcome Vietnamese enterprises to explore cooperation opportunities, especially in areas that the province is in great need of, such as agricultural and aquatic product processing for export, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and renewable energy.

Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam talks with Governor of Northern Province Nagalingam Vethanayahan.

On November 18, within the framework of the economic diplomacy implementation plan in 2025, the Embassy coordinated with the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce to organize a seminar with businesses in the Northern province to introduce the investment and business environment in Vietnam.

At the same time, explore opportunities and potential to promote cooperation between businesses of the two countries in the fields of high-tech agriculture, food processing, construction, logistics, energy and tourism.

Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam speaks at a business forum in Jaffna, Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

At the seminar, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam emphasized that Vietnam has a stable investment environment, modern infrastructure, high-quality human resources and an extensive FTA network, making it an attractive destination for international businesses in general and Sri Lankan businesses in particular.

The Ambassador also reiterated that during President Dissanayake's State visit to Vietnam in May 2025, the two sides committed to soon bringing the two-way trade turnover to 1 billion USD, requiring great efforts from ministries, branches and business communities of the two countries.

The Ambassador affirmed that the Embassy is always ready to provide relevant information and support businesses of the two countries to connect and exchange cooperation.

Businesses attending the seminar.

Local businesses appreciate the potential and attractiveness of the Vietnamese market and wish to learn more about the environment, policies and investment opportunities in Vietnam.

At the same time, he expressed optimism about the information that there are currently 30 Sri Lankan investment projects in Vietnam with a value of more than 43 million USD and that more and more businesses from both countries are interested in each other's markets.

Accordingly, on average, each month about 1,000 Sri Lankans come to Vietnam to explore business or tourism opportunities and 300 Vietnamese people visit Sri Lanka.

Delegates speaking at the seminar.

In addition, provincial enterprises also expressed their hope that Vietnamese enterprises would play an active and proactive role in researching, surveying and investing in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka in the context that Sri Lanka in general and the Northern Province of Sri Lanka in particular are facing many difficulties due to the consequences of the financial and economic crisis.

Many opinions proposed that in the immediate future, practical cooperation is needed, focusing on areas where Vietnam has strengths and the Northern provinces have high demand, including high-tech agricultural development, agricultural and aquatic product processing and aquaculture; Vietnam should increase experience and technology sharing, support Sri Lanka in skills training and capacity building.

Delegates take souvenir photos at the seminar.

The working trip was successful, contributing to strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, while opening up many opportunities for cooperation and local connections between the two sides. This is a meaningful activity in the year the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (1970-2025).

The Northern Province of Sri Lanka is the closest province to Southeast Asia in Sri Lanka. Before the civil war, the province thrived, contributing nearly 50% of Sri Lanka's GDP.

The prolonged war devastated the province's economy. Now the province is gradually recovering, but there is a lack of supporting industries to increase the value of local products for export.

Some photos of the visit and work in the Northern province of Sri Lanka of Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam and Embassy staff:

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-cuong-hop-tac-viet-nam-va-tinh-mien-bac-sri-lanka-mo-ra-nhieu-co-hoi-ket-noi-dia-phuong-334974.html