PRESS RELEASE – VISIT OF HON ALI SABRY, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 27TH TO 30TH APRIL 2024
Hon Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka undertook an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 27th to 30th April 2024. The main purpose of the visit was to take part in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development held in Riyadh from 27th to 29th April 2024, the invitation of which was jointly extended by President of WEF Borge Brende and HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Hon Ali Sabry took part in two panel discussions as speaker during the special meeting. In taking part in the panel discussion titled “North to South, East to West : Rebuilding Trust” the foreign minister stated that the aspirations of the Global South is for the Global North to walk the talks and rebuild trust which was eroded over a period of time. Other panelists included HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of KSA, Josep Burrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The session was moderated by President of the WEF Borge Brende. While speaking at the second panel discussion titled Building Urban Future the foreign minister stated that Sri Lanka is at the crossroad of transformation and it provides great opportunity to investors in the next phase of development particularly in urbanization. Lord Mayor of London Rt. Hon. Michel Mainnelli, CEO Mikolaj Sekutowicz of Impact One and CEO James Scriven of IDB Invest were the other panelists.
In the margins of the special meeting the Foreign Minister also met his Saudi counterpart HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud. During the meeting both ministers reviewed the bilateral relations and agreed to enhance economic and commercial partnership and people to people contacts.
Minister Ali Sabry also met Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim during which both ministers agreed to finalize the road map for greater economic cooperation in alignment with the already existing mechanism for economic cooperation under the Joint Committee.
Foreign Minister Sabry and Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih signed the MoU on Investment Promotion. During discussions prior to the signing ceremony both ministers agreed to encourage investment opportunities in each other’s countries.
Minister Ali Sabry also met Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim during which both ministers agreed to finalize the road map for greater economic cooperation in alignment with the already existing mechanism for economic cooperation under the Joint Committee.
He had an interactive session with the Sri Lankan community residing in the Kingdom and participated at the welcome reception organized at the Sri Lanka International School in Riyadh.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia P M Amza and Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lakshitha Ratnayake accompanied the Minister to the meetings.
Sri Lanka Embassy
Riyadh
30.04.2024