September 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is looking to deepen its economic and development engagement with Africa, with agriculture, technology, investment and maritime cooperation identified as key areas for future collaboration.
Nirmala Paranavitana, Sri Lanka’s first woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), formally assumed her role after presenting her credentials to UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete in Addis Ababa.
The occasion was described by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Ethiopia as an important milestone for women’s representation in the country’s diplomatic service, as well as an opportunity to broaden Sri Lanka’s practical engagement with African countries.
During subsequent discussions, Paranavitana and Gatete explored ways of expanding South–South cooperation through business partnerships, technology exchange, investment and private-sector participation.
A number of potential projects involving African countries were highlighted. These include agricultural knowledge-sharing with Burundi, particularly in rice production; cassava processing and support for smaller businesses in the Central African Republic; cooperation in the power sector with Cameroon; and collaboration with Equatorial Guinea in textiles and apparel.
Sri Lanka is also examining opportunities to work with Chad and Ethiopia on digital skills and youth entrepreneurship, while discussions with Somalia and Djibouti could lead to greater cooperation in fisheries, maritime security and Coast Guard training.
Ethiopia has emerged as another potential hub for bilateral economic initiatives, with dairy production, food processing and entrepreneurship among the areas being considered. Sri Lanka is also exploring the possibility of assisting Chad in establishing a disaster management centre, drawing on its own experience in responding to natural disasters.
Gatete welcomed the proposed areas of cooperation and pointed to rice, cassava-based industries, mini-hydropower, pharmaceuticals and textile value chains as sectors with considerable potential.
He also encouraged Sri Lanka to look beyond individual bilateral projects and develop regional supply chains capable of reaching wider African markets. Ethiopia, he suggested, could provide a useful starting point for testing such models.
UNECA has indicated that it is prepared to help Sri Lankan institutions and businesses connect with African counterparts and development bodies. Sri Lankan companies have also been encouraged to make greater use of platforms linked to UNECA and the African Union, including the Africa Business Forum.
The discussions signal Colombo’s intention to place greater emphasis on economic diplomacy in its relations with Africa, using Sri Lanka’s experience in areas such as agriculture, disaster management, maritime affairs and entrepreneurship to develop mutually beneficial partnerships.
If pursued, the proposed initiatives could create new openings for Sri Lankan businesses while supporting technology transfers, investment and employment opportunities across both regions.
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