European Union–Sri Lanka Business Roundtable: Sri Lanka’s Role as a Regional Maritime and Logistics Hub
Colombo, Sri Lanka - 29 May 2026: The Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka, together with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka), hosted the EU–Sri Lanka Business Roundtable under the theme 'Global Gateway and Sri Lanka’s Role as a Regional Maritime & Logistics Hub' recently.
The high-level roundtable brought together senior government representatives, EU Ambassadors, global industry leaders, development finance institutions, and key stakeholders from Sri Lanka’s maritime, logistics, and export sectors to discuss how Sri Lanka can strengthen its position as a competitive and sustainable regional hub in the Indian Ocean.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Martin Klose, Chief Delegate AHK Sri Lanka, followed by a keynote address by H.E. Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka, who outlines the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative and Sri Lanka’s strategic role in regional connectivity and trade.
A high-level discussion with impulses featured distinguished speakers including Hon. Arun Hemachandra, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism as well as Parakrama Dissanayake, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
The discussion focused on opportunities of closer EU-Sri Lanka cooperation, sustainable foreign direct investment, port competitiveness, supply chain reliability, maritime infrastructure, and Sri Lanka’s potential to expand its role in global trade and logistics networks.
The roundtable provided a platform for dialogue between European and Sri Lankan stakeholders on practical pathways to strengthen economic cooperation, improve connectivity, and enhance Sri Lanka’s attractiveness as a regional investment and export destination. Participants identified strategic reforms to be accelerated in order to create a more conducive enabling environment for future EU investments.
The programme concluded with networking and bilateral engagement sessions, enabling participants to explore new partnerships and collaboration opportunities.