President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated the the government's commitment to establish a BIMSTEC Centre for Technology Transfer, to facilitate a collective drive for economic advancement.
“To take Sri Lanka to the next stage of development, the vision of my government is to create a knowledge based competitive social market economy which is integrated with the world”, he said.
The President made these remarks, addressing the BIMSTC Summit held in Goa, India yesterday.
“The full potential of regional cooperation however remains yet to be realised. We need to change course now to fulfill the expectations of our people to deliver a strong growth dividend through economic and technical cooperation”, the President pointed out.
“Diversification and modernisation of economies, infrastructure development, knowledge exchange, increased access to technology, enhanced capacity building, expansion of trade and investment can no longer be held back”, the President further stated.
Following are excerpts of President Sirisena’s speech:
“Our presence today is a clear demonstration of the unity of purpose and solidarity in working towards the effective realisation of BIMSTEC objectives.”
“Since its inception in 1997, BIMSTEC meetings have resulted in adoption of several declarations focusing on achieving prosperity in the region. We need to regain, through meaningful and outcome oriented collaboration, the legitimacy that underpins any serious regional framework.”
“My government’s approach to regional cooperation and inter-regional collaboration is be based upon friendship with all and enmity towards none. In the inter-dependent world that we see today no country or people can seek to prosper in isolation. In the same vein, none can be cast away as unimportant or irrelevant given that challenges are of a cross-cutting nature.”
“We need to consolidate peace, ensure security and prosperity for all our citizens. “While strengthening BIMSTEC our vision of providing the nexus between SAARC and ASEAN needs to be further explored.”
“It is timely to reorient the organization to meet one of its original expectations that is to enhance inter-regional trade, investment and tourism. I am happy to reiterate the commitment of the government of Sri Lanka to establish a BIMSTEC Centre for Technology Transfer to contribute to our collective drive to economic advancement.”
“To take Sri Lanka to the next stage of development, the vision of my government is to create a knowledge based competitive social market economy which is integrated with the world. In conclusion, I seek your support for the success of the irreversible journey that my country has undertaken towards advancement of peace and prosperity since the establishment of the National Unity Government last year,” President Sirisena said.
