Colombo, Mar 24 (IANS): Sri Lanka's state owned Board of Investments (BOI) opened up a one-stop-service centre at the Hambantota International Port to attract global investors.

The centre was set up as a joint venture between the BOI and the Hambantota International Port Group Pvt Ltd (HIPG), a joint venture company formed between the Sri Lankan government and China Merchants Port Holdings (CM Port), reports Xinhua news agency.

CM Port entered partnership with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in 2017 to develop and manage the Hambantota port.

Following the launch of the centre on Saturday, the BOI said it will play the role of facilitator to provide all information about Sri Lanka's investment policies to those interested in investing in Hambantota to improve the country ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index.

The BOI said the Hambantota Port was targeting investments within the 3.5 square km area allocated for its development.

Sri Lanka's Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama said the government would bring global opportunities for the people in Hambantota and southern parts of the country and it would benefit all its regional partners.