With South Korean investors expressing interest in investing in the Northern Province, a discussion on how best to capitalize on this opportunity was held on Wednesday morning (10.09.2025) at the Governor’s Secretariat, under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
Opening the discussion, the Hon. Governor stated that investors from South Korea have expressed a strong interest in investing in the Northern Province. He noted that they intend to channel their investments through local companies and are committed to creating employment opportunities for the region’s youth. As part of this initiative, they are also prepared to support vocational training by collaborating with existing training institutions. The Governor emphasized that the purpose of the discussion was to explore potential areas for investment and to foster collaborative efforts to move forward with these opportunities.
The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka provided an update on the progress of the three investment zones currently being established in the Northern Province, outlining the available investment opportunities in these zones.
Following this, representatives from the business community and export sector shared their perspectives. They emphasized that many raw materials sourced from the North are currently transported to the South and exported from there as value-added products. They proposed that investment opportunities should be sought to carry out value-added production directly within the Northern Province.
Additionally, they suggested exploring investment prospects for the development of the Kankesanthurai Port. They also highlighted the potential of reviving unused or abandoned factories and buildings in the region for export-oriented activities, which would further enhance the local economy and employment.
At the same time, the representatives also brought to the Governor’s attention the various challenges faced by exporters in the Northern Province. They particularly highlighted the need for a shift in the mindset of certain officials, which they identified as a key barrier to progress.
The discussion was attended by the Secretary to the Governor, the coordinating Secretaries to the Governor, the Deputy Director from office of the Deputy Chief Secretary – Planning of the Northern Province, representatives of the business community, and members of the Exporters’ Union.
