Sri Lanka targets $36 bn economy with export, investment push

Sri Lanka aims to double its exports and investments while working toward building a 36 billion dollar economy by 2030, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti stated on Saturday (15).

Speaking at Entrepreneurs' Night 2026 in Melbourne, Australia, Handunnetti noted that boosting investment and business development remains essential for the country, driven by collaboration between citizens living in Melbourne and people in Sri Lanka regardless of international conditions.

Department of Government Information reports indicate that Australia's leading investors and entrepreneurs expressed strong willingness to make direct investments in several key sectors to attract foreign capital into Sri Lanka.

The minister highlighted the need to bring investments from business owners in Australia into Sri Lanka while taking Sri Lankan businesses to Australia, noting that the forum discussed this exchange in collaboration with the Board of Investment and the Ministry of Industries.

Politicians now reach out to entrepreneurs to support business expansion, shifting away from past practices where entrepreneurs approached politicians, he pointed out.

All necessary facilities to achieve investment and export targets with a key focus on attracting investors are already in place, following several rounds of discussions held for this purpose.

Calling the Melbourne business forum the most successful business gathering held in Australia to date, Minister Handunnetti expressed eagerness to follow up on the discussion outcomes in the near future.