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The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted Consul General Alexi Gunasekera of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates on October 26 for discussions on expanding economic relations. Director General Salem Al Suwaidi led the session that examined prospects for increasing bilateral trade and launching joint investment projects between Ajman and Sri Lanka. The two sides considered drafting memorandums of understanding to formalise cooperation across multiple fields while the Sri Lankan delegation extended an invitation for the chamber to join Expo Sri Lanka 2027. Gunasekera provided an overview of Sri Lanka’s economic priorities and the foreign investment sectors it is promoting.
Discussions centred on potential collaboration in fintech, machinery and industrial equipment, education, food security and advanced information technology according to the chamber. A statement by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi placed non-oil bilateral trade between the UAE and Sri Lanka at $1.1 billion in 2025 which reflected 5.2 percent growth from the prior year. The UAE ranks among Sri Lanka’s top trading partners and accounts for 5.2 percent of the country’s overall foreign trade the minister noted. Sri Lanka’s exports to the UAE reached $341 million in 2025 while imports from the UAE totalled nearly $1.44 billion according to Sri Lanka Export Development Board figures.
Expo Sri Lanka 2027 is set to open in January and will highlight industrial manufacturing, agricultural products and services, renewable energy, tourism, healthcare as well as modern technologies and innovation. The exhibition is designed to connect international businesses with Sri Lankan opportunities and stimulate new partnerships. The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signalled its interest in participating to strengthen ties with Sri Lankan counterparts.
Gunasekera who also serves as a key advocate for Sri Lankan economic outreach expects deeper economic agreements to lift trade volumes substantially in the years ahead. He told Gulf News that an existing investment protection agreement and ongoing talks for a broader economic partnership have set the stage for expansion. Nearly 250,000 Sri Lankan nationals reside in the UAE providing a foundation of people-to-people links that support commercial relations the consul general added.
The meeting concluded with an invitation from the Ajman Chamber for the Sri Lankan delegation to attend the launch of the Thara Investment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. This platform focuses on empowering entrepreneurs accelerating ventures identifying investment openings and forging connections between business communities in both locations. The initiative forms part of Ajman’s broader strategy to promote innovation and cross-border economic activity.
Earlier this year the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka signed an agreement with the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry to create a joint business council aimed at facilitating trade investment and networking. That development built on prior cooperation and has already prompted calls for more official and business delegations between the two sides. The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues to pursue similar engagements to align with the emirate’s economic growth objectives.
