Ambassador Wijayanthi Edirisinghe Vice Chairs the Second Committee on Trade, Investment, Enterprise and Business Innovation of UNESCAP

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Wijayanthi Edirisinghe was one of the Vice Chairs of the Second Committee on Trade, Investment, Enterprise and Business Innovation, held from 28 to 30 May 2025 in Bangkok.

The session was inaugurated by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, who delivered the opening remarks and underscored the importance of enhanced regional cooperation to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

In delivering Sri Lanka’s country statement, Ambassador Edirisinghe emphasized the country’s concrete steps to deepen its integration into the regional economic architecture. She further highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development and economic transformation through initiatives such as the expansion of renewable energy, the Port City Colombo project, and the Western Region Megapolis Plan, aimed at positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive hub in the Indian Ocean region.

Director General of the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka Chamindry Saparamadu also delivered a statement under Agenda of Advancing the Agenda on Business Innovation and Sustainable Development. She urged ESCAP to continue supporting member States in promoting inclusive and sustainable businesses and investment, which are critical to ensuring that no one is left behind.

In particular, she called for strengthened efforts to build business capacities, implement inclusive business accreditation systems, promote women entrepreneurs, support the green transition of SMEs, and enhance access to finance and investment. She stressed that these measures are essential to unlocking the full potential of the private sector in driving a resilient and sustainable future across the region.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to UNESCAP
Bangkok
29 May 2025