The Sri Lankan delegation, led by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, held a high-level discussion yesterday (17th) with Mr. Henning Beltestad, CEO of Lerøy Seafood Group, the largest seafood, aquaculture, and processing company in Norway. The meeting took place on the sidelines of "One Ocean Week" currently held in Bergen, Norway.
The delegation included Dr. B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, and Mr. S.J. Kahawatte, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
During the meeting, both parties exchanged extensive industry experiences. CEO Henning Beltestad highlighted the company's established presence in the Asian market, particularly through operations in India, China, and Japan. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar presented a detailed overview of Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector, emphasizing the vast untapped potential, available resources, and the government’s vision for industrial expansion.
Mr. Beltestad expressed a keen interest in collaborating with Sri Lanka’s seafood processing industry. He indicated that Lerøy is ready to explore strategic partnerships to enhance the processing sector, focusing on value-added products and technological integration. The CEO further assured that he intends to engage directly with the Sri Lankan seafood industry in the near future to establish a formal framework for cooperation.
This potential partnership marks a significant milestone in the government's efforts to attract world-class investment and expertise to modernize Sri Lanka’s fisheries and aquaculture landscape.
