Special Russian business delegation will be visiting Sri Lanka to explore investment opportunities and to establish contacts with local counterparts on the directions of visiting Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko.
This was a goodwill gesture for the island nation made by Russinn business tycoon in response to a request made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during their close door meeting in Colombo on Wednesday (17).
During the discussions, which was also attended by State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the Prime Minister requested Melnichenko to consider Sri Lanka for possible investments, especially in the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port to which the Russian tycoon said he would send a team to Sri Lanka soon to study the possibility.
Melnichenko, whose net worth is USD 17.9 billion, owns companies which specialise in coal, fertiliser, logistics, and electricity. His companies have employed over 100,000 people and have invested some USD 21 billion into fertiliser and coal production over the past 15 years.
Melnichenko arrived in Sri Lanka two weeks ago, and his purpose of visit was purely for tourism and not to seek investment possibilities.
He arrived in the country with his wife and two children on a private jet and has toured many tourist locations in the country including Adams Peak.
He later visited the Colombo Port City and was briefed on its construction progress and future developments. He was accompanied by Sri Lankan-born British politician and former EU Parliamentarian Niranjan Deva Aditya.
As of March 2021, the Russian industrialist was ranked 95th in the Forbes list of the world's billionaires, and as the 7th richest in Russia. Melnichenko owns the world's largest private sail-assisted motor yacht named 'A' which is estimated to be USD 400 million.
Melnichenko is a self-made billionaire with major investments in Switzerland-based fertiliser giant EuroChem Group and Russia-based coal energy company SUEK.
The delegation was briefed on the Port City Colombo project, its construction progress and future developments by Country Manager - Sales and Investor Relations, Radhika Ellepola.
Melnichenko expressed positive remarks about the project and that he was impressed with the strategic planning of the new city in the making.
From the beginning of this year, Port City Colombo continues to attract several world leading business personalities, keeping Sri Lanka on the map as a potential hub for future investment
Leave your comments
Login to post a comment
Post comment as a guest