Media plays vital role in empowering people, business ties
The media is a vital tool driving to empower people and its whole hearted support altogether is the main cause for the success of the Jaffna International Trade Fair which was started and has grown over a period of 11 years.
K. Vignesh, Chairman, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yalpanam paying a glowing tribute to the media for the great support for the success of the JITF and stressing the power of the media in empowering people, made the above comments at a recent media briefing held at Kingsbury Hotel Colombo to announce the holding of JITF 2020 on January 24-26, 2020 at Muttraweli Grounds, Jaffna.
The exhibition is organised by Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd in association with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yalpanam with the support of the Jaffna Municipal Council, the International Business Council, the Ministry of Commerce and the Consulate General of India in Jaffna. It is expected to have more than 350 stalls and expected to be visited by nearly 70,000 visitors.
On the sidelines of the media briefing, Mr. Vignesh said that the business and industry flowing to the Northern region with the help of the private sector has created a new culture which enabled to bridge the long standing gap between the North and the South.
He said that because of the business community, businessmen from the South established their business there and likewise Northern traders and industrialists continued their business in the South which created a friendly atmosphere and both communities coming together, sinking differences and hatred which existed before.
He pointed out that the Northern region has become an active contributor to the national economy. Quoting the Central Bank statistics, he said that the share of the contribution to the GDP is in the region of around 3.5 per cent and it has been progressively increasing year- on- year.
He indicated that though there are a few constraints the diaspora have started investing in the region.
During the media briefing he said that he would take the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on behalf of the business community of the North.
He said that over the past decade JITF has become a trade mark in the Northern Province and enjoys island-wide recognition as well as internationally.
He pointed out that as the chamber they are very much confident to build economic development of the region, but, unfortunately they are not getting the Northern region’s local political leaders to represent them from the region.