Faster bureaucracy, corruption free policy can attract more German investments - Ambassador

• Sri Lanka in the centre of the Indian Ocean, its security is linked to Germany’s security
• Sri Lanka is not using all GSP plus possibilities

Colombo, Oct. 29 (Daily Mirror) - German Ambassador Dr. Felix Neumann, asserting that around 300 German brands are currently present in Sri Lanka, said more investments could flow from his country if bureaucracy acts faster, the “corruption-free policy” continues, and investments are properly protected.

Delivering remarks at the monthly ‘Ambassadors’ Roundtable Discussion’ organized by the Pathfinder Foundation, Dr. Neumann said this was the feedback he had received from German companies operating in Sri Lanka. He noted that German firms often compare Sri Lanka’s conditions with those of other countries in the region before committing to investments.

“They compare how long they have to wait to obtain licenses for production or to install plants here,” he said, adding that German companies may look elsewhere if Sri Lanka’s approval processes are not made faster.

Commenting on ‘security’, which he identified as one of the three pillars of German foreign policy—alongside ‘wealth’ and ‘freedom’—the Ambassador emphasized Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean and its relevance to Germany’s own security interests.

“The Indian Ocean is a peaceful region. There is an existing principle of freedom of navigation throughout the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is not the biggest state in the region, but it is located at the very centre of the Indian Ocean, along some of the world’s most important international shipping routes. Thanks to nature, Sri Lanka has deep-sea harbours that are essential for these global trade lines. Therefore, Germany’s security is linked to the security of Sri Lanka. A stable, democratic Sri Lanka with the rule of law and a prosperous society contributes to stability at this key point in the Indian Ocean,” he observed.

Asked about Sri Lanka’s policy of neutrality, Dr. Neumann said, “I know there is a Sri Lankan position. It is fine. It is a friend to all and enemy to none. We have a country that has decided to be fair by everyone. That aligns with the international principle of freedom of navigation.”

However, referring to Sri Lanka’s neutral stance at the UN vote on the Russia–Ukraine war, the Ambassador added that, as a small country dependent on the principle of territorial integrity, a different vote “would have been appropriate.”

“There was a special Sri Lankan neutrality. We respect that. It is a sovereign decision of Sri Lanka. But as a small country relying on territorial integrity, different voting would have been appropriate. It is up to Sri Lanka to decide how to vote in the future,” he remarked.

Dr. Neumann further emphasized that Sri Lanka is among the few countries that enjoy a trade surplus with Germany.

“We export less to Sri Lanka than Sri Lanka exports to Germany. Germany is at the centre of Europe, and our wealth is largely based on access to the European market. Though Germany covers only one percent of the global surface, it represents the world’s third-largest economic power. For this, we need partners who engage with us in a common market. That is why I often say Germany is ‘Team Europe.’ Within the European Union, our goal is to keep the EU as open as possible to our partners,” he explained.

Highlighting Germany’s support for the GSP+ scheme, which grants Sri Lanka privileged access to the European market, he said the country has not fully utilized the opportunities offered by the facility.

“We encourage the Sri Lankan economy, under the pillar of wealth, to diversify and make full use of the GSP+ concessions. We are certain this will be beneficial for both Sri Lanka and the European Union,” he concluded.