A meeting between the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Mr. Rathna Gamage, and a group of South Korean investors was held at the Ministry premises today (8th of May 2025). The main objective of the meeting was to expand cooperation in the fisheries and aquatic resources sector between Sri Lanka and South Korea.
The current state of fish exports from Sri Lanka to South Korea was discussed, and it was pointed out that there is a high demand in Korea for fish exported in a frozen state(-20°C), especially by blast freezing. It is expected to initiate a project to expand this export process in collaboration with the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) after adjusting local prices in the future.
Attention was drawn even to the challenges facing in employments related to the fishing industry of South Korea. Since most of the people currently leaving under E-9 visas do not belong to coastal communities, there has been a tendency of them to leave their jobs and stay as illegal immigrants. Extensive discussions were held with private investors on creating permanent employment opportunities in the South Korean fishing industry for young people from fishing families, with the intention of minimizing this situation and directing more suitable individuals to the fishing sector.
Furthermore, at this meeting, Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage requested the relevant Korean institution to provide several fully fledged vessels with high capacity to strengthen the operations of the Sri Lanka Fisheries Corporation.
Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage and a group of South Korean investors participated in this meeting.
