AIESEC grads to help Lankan exporters

The AIESEC chapter at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is launching an entrepreneurship development project, “Step Forward Sri Lanka” aimed at developing an entrepreneurial spirit in participants and supporting Sri Lankan-export oriented companies in their market expansion activity.

The chapter in a press release said that one key aspect that holds exporters back has been identified as the lack of market knowledge, making them less responsive and less sophisticated than their competition. Further to this working within multicultural environment, creativity and innovation, formation of strategic partnerships are some of the other challenges identified to be faced by local exporters.

Under the project, AIESEC graduates from specific countries of interest for exporters will come to Sri Lankan for a 6-month period and carry out market research for companies involved in the project. The project also involves strong learning opportunities around the topic of entrepreneurship in the form of conferences, workshops, seminars and learning discussions involving key resource personnel and organizations.

The selected Sri Lankan export companies that involves in the project will benefit through insight into new markets, new knowledge and modern techniques, relationships to potential markets and learning opportunities for employees to foster entrepreneurship.

AIESEC is an international platform for young people to develop and discover their potential . The platform provides opportunities of working abroad, learning networks, leadership experience, conferences, and supports self-discovery. Operating in over 800 universities in 95 countries with a membership around 22, 000 udergraduates taking up over 5000 leadership positions and over 4000 work abroad opportunities annually, AIESEC is recognised as the world’s largest student run organisation.

AIESEC in Sri Lanka is one of the strongerst countries within the international network with more than 100 undergraduates of Universities of Moratuwa, Kelaniya, Colombo and Sri Jayewardenapura as its members.

‘Step Forward Sri Lanka’ provides an opportunity for exporters to explore new markets whilst strengthening their employees through the multicultural experience. “We warmly welcome all Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs who are willing to experience this rare opportunity to join us. Contact 071-3169100 (Sasanka), 077-3585721 (Shamindra),” the release said.