By: Staff Writer March 09, Colombo (LNW):Sri Lanka is planning to enhance domestic production linkages with the mineral resources sector in Central Africa. The aim is to develop the capacities of implementing participatory strategies for the creation and strengthening of lasting national economic linkages to mineral-exploitation-related activities. This would involve, inter alia, stimulating dialogue among political leaders and local business organizations and professional associations, as well as foreign investors, on ways and means to ensure investment in mineral activities that facilitate the creation of new activities, jobs and subcontracting opportunities between foreign companies and local enterprises. It will also contribute to the design of appropriate policies and regulatory frameworks of relevance to the optimization of the development impact of the mineral sector. High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya, Kana Kananathan, engaged in a significant meeting with the President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic at his country residence recently . The discussions primarily revolved around elevating bilateral relations, focusing on avenues for collaboration, particularly in the context of Sri Lankan businesses capitalizing on the rich mining opportunities in the Central African Republic. The dialogue emphasized fostering economic ties and exploring strategic partnerships to facilitate the effective utilization of the abundant mineral resources in the region by Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. Central African Republic”s minerals include diamonds. Gold, uranium, iron ore, copper, and manganese The meeting between President Faustin Touadéra marks a pivotal step towards enhancing economic cooperation and opening new avenues for mutual growth and prosperity. Kananathan said the meeting was exploring rich mining opportunities and strengthening bilateral ties for mutual growth . Sri Lanka seems to have impressed the Central African Republic with infrastructure and other developments to mine its abundant natural resources ranging from oil, uranium and lithium to gold, diamonds, iron ore and copper. The SL government needs to feed its now strengthening economy and we need their technical know-how. It’s a win-win partnership for both he said Central Africa has massive reserves of a wide range of minerals, most of which are untapped. From aluminium to zinc, Central Africa has enormous potential to develop into a mining powerhouse, and with the recovery in commodity prices as well as the mining super cycle period, the country is seeing more mining projects being developed.