The Hambantota International Port (HIP) supported a joint initiative by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Hambantota Chamber of Commerce, which are on an initiative to attract investments into the southern hinterland of Sri Lanka. In line with JETRO’s business engagement in India, the delegation of investors consisted mainly of Japan-based business organisations with branch offices in India and some in Sri Lanka.
“HIP is keen to support investment events of this nature as they open up opportunities for investors to do business on a regional level from the south of the island. The opportunity for Japanese companies operating in India and Sri Lanka to look at the deep south to build industry is timely at this particular juncture of Sri Lankan history. The rapid development process taking place at our port and the establishment of the last pillar of HIP’s master plan, which is container operations, will vastly support the development of industries in the southern hinterland,” says Wilson Qu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG)
During their visit, the delegates participated in a short familiarisation tour of HIP, where they observed the port’s facilities and engaged with its officials. The visit reflected HIP’s commitment to fostering international business relationships, with the port team delivering a detailed presentation showcasing the port’s facilities and potential.
The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), which is behind the port’s rapid expansion in the last few years, was recognised as a top FDI contributor at the BOI’s 45th Anniversary Awards, with an investment of $1.4 billion between 2017-2022. The delegation included representatives from JETRO offices in both India and Sri Lanka, including Kaoru Shiraishi, Director General of JETRO India, along with Junki Yamashita, Senior Director of JETRO Chennai, and Toyokazu Nagamune, Senior Director of JETRO New Delhi. Representing JETRO Sri Lanka were Hiroki Oi, Lakna Ayeshmanthi, Yuno Fukatsu, and Shigeki Nogami.
Accompanying the JETRO officials were senior executives from prominent global organisations. These included Saito Michiyasu, Managing Director of the Chennai branch of Mitsubishi UFJ, and Shotaro Oka, Head of the Chennai branch of Sojitz India Private Limited. Also present were Aida Taiga, General Manager of Yusen Logistics (India) Private Limited; Yoshihito Goto, Sales Adviser at ThreeBond India Pvt. Ltd; Aoyagi Tomohisa, Senior General Manager of Nippon Steel Chemical & Material India; and Tomoko Umeki, Attorney-at-law with Nishimura & Asahi. Other participants included Shinichiro Yoshimori, Senior Manager of Global Japan AAP Consulting, and senior representatives from Sumitomo Corporation, namely Kazumasa Imai, General Manager, India, and Tomotsugu Kiribe, General Manager, Logistics Business, Asia & Oceania. Yuzawa Naoko, Consul General at the Consulate of Japan in Chennai, also joined the group.
The visit further extended to Japanese organisations based in Sri Lanka, with representation from Hidetaka Tamura of IM Japan Colombo Office, Kimiyoshi Shimura of One Asia Consulting Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and Shuichi Nakamoto of UBE Mitsubishi Cement Corporation. Representatives from Kaihatsu Management Consulting Lanka, World Lanka Tours, and officials from the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka also participated, including First Secretary (Financial Attache) Takafumi Nakanishi, Ms.Tsugumi Toyota, and Ms. Duleesha Hettiarachchi. Additionally, Satoshi Iwaki of Nikkei Inc., Shalini Jayarathne from MUFG Bank Colombo, and Tetsuya Yamada of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were part of the delegation.
The visit to HIP marks Japan’s growing interest in Sri Lanka’s strategic trade and logistics potential, with the port serving as a vital hub for global commerce. By engaging with global stakeholders, HIP reinforces its position as a gateway for international trade and investment, paving the way for collaborations that promise mutual growth and development.