Chambers moving ahead with Kandy development

The Kandy Times Business recently did a survey of the three Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Kandy to make its readers aware of the facilities provided by these chambers. There exists potential for micro entrepreneurs to rise to higher levels of entrepreneurship by utilising services and training provided by the chambers.

Soori Samarajeeva, CEO of the Central Province Women's Chamber of Small Industries & Commerce (CPWCIC) said his organization is offering a first in Kandy by coordinating classes in Human Resources Management together with the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (IPM).

“The CPWCIC has made possible a rare opportunity for residents of Kandy district,” he said. “This is the first time the IPM is conducting courses out of Colombo; they will be held on week ends for the benefit of students who otherwise would have had to travel to Colombo.” They offer foundation courses for school leavers, personnel clerks and general clerks, supervisory staff; courses for junior executives and undergraduates.

The CPWCIC also organizes the Nucleus Project in collaboration with the GTZ/ Economic Support Strategy Programme. Samarajeeva explained, “A nucleus is a working group of entrepreneurs of the same sector supported and moderated by counselors within the Chamber.” The GTZ/ESSP Project provides a percentage of the cost of all training programmes. The CPWCIC currently has nuclei on Beauty Culture ( 7 Nuclei), Textile (2 Nuclei), Cookery & Catering, Cut Foliage (2 Nuclei), Costume Jewellery, Natural & Artificial Floral arrangements and Handlooms.

Members of the Beauty Culture Nuclei went on study tours to Mumbai and Bangkok during the last two years; two members purchased salon equipment through the project for only 50% of the cost. Members of the Textile Nuclei purchased sewing machines of their choice at subsidized rates.

A big event in the CPWCIC is the Regional Entrepreneur of the Year competition – part of the Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the Year competition. “Regional level competitions lead to national awards and it is a great honour to receive a national award,” said Samarajeeva. Applications are now available at the CPWCIC with July 31 being the closing date for entries. Details (tel) -- No. 081 – 2228830.

“The CPWCIC celebrates 13 years of service and was established with the sole purpose of giving due recognition to women entrepreneurs in the Central Province for their role in the economic development of the country,” says Samarajeeva adding that he is convinced that by economic self-reliance women will be better empowered to improve the quality of their lives and those of their families.

He said several training programmes have been planned for the next six months of 2007 for members/non members and especially for women who intend to be self employed in beauty culture, cake making/icing including Wilton flower making techniques, saree embroidery, silk painting and saree jacket sewing, soft toy making, patch work, flower arranging, cookery including an Indian food demonstration, bakery products and computer software training.

Samarajeeva noted that proficiency in English was needed especially when conducting overseas business and therefore the Chamber hopes to conduct Business English Classes. He says, “We hope many women entrepreneurs will make use of this opportunity to improve their English language skills.”

At the National Chamber of Handicrafts of Sri Lanka (NCHSL), its CEO A.C. Navagamuwa confirmed that this year too, they were making preparations in collaboration with the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka for the annual trade fair to be held at the Queen’s Hotel during the Kandy Perehera season from August 24 to 28. “For the sake of our members I hope that the tourist season will be a success this year,” he said. He said the chamber is also making preliminary preparations to establish a Chamber of Handicrafts in Galle.

This is a project of the European Union Asia Invert Tree and its Resident Representative, Peter Rechmann says he hopes the project will be successful.

He recently organised a workshop on the theme “How to use IT in handicrafts” with resource persons from Germany, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Many of the chamber members were not proficient in English or computer software and a great effort was made to select some members who were taught basic skills in these two subjects. Both President of the Handicrafts Chamber, M. R. Thilakarathna and Navagamuwa noted that these selected members were now using the Internet to progress in their enterprises.
Tillekeratne and Rechmann are now preparing to launch another project called “Crafts-match” and members will be enabled to do computer generated designing. The kick-off meeting is scheduled to be held in Kandy in September 2007. The NCHSL opened a showroom “Gifts and Souvenirs” in the Crescat shopping complex in Colombo last year to assist its members by providing greater exposure and a more level playing field for marketing their products. “But,” says Navagamuwa: “Sales haven’t been upto expectations.

We need a much higher turnover to meet the high overhead costs and hope that business will improve. If this is not a viable venture, the members will be disappointed as they are very optimistic of increased sales of their products in Colombo”.

Another fact that the NCHSL was satisfied about was that they have been able to lobby with state authorities on behalf of their members. One such recent example is the case of scrap metal like brass, copper that was exported to India. Sri Lankan craftsmen suffered as a result because this scrap metal that could be purchased for lower prices were not available to them.

The NCHSL lobbied this cause and consequently, export tax for this commodity was increased and exports were restricted. It was a victory for the NCHSL. The chamber office is at George E de Silva Mawatha, Kandy. Telephone: 081-2203791. The Kandy Times also spoke to the Secretary of the Central Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CPCCI) D. H. Swarnatilleke who has served on the Board of Directors since its inception in 1992.

The National Award for the Best Nucleus in 2006 was won by CPCCI. “We received the national award for the best nucleus work in Sri Lanka for the year 2006,” he said. The Chamber has formed 36 nuclei for dressmakers, brassware craftsmen, printers, sawmill workers, leather crafters to name a few.

The chamber is planning to form an Arbitration Committee that can play an advisory role to the public on any disputes they face as business people.

Six months ago, the chamber facilitated the formation of the Mahanuwara Development Society together with officials of the Kandy Municipal Council and leading businessmen to jointly solve the problems faced by the business community in Kandy.“We lobbied for the new traffic arrangements in Kandy which worked well but unfortunately due to undue interference Kandy has had to revert to the previous system and the roads remain congested with traffic,” says Swarnatilleke.

“We will continue to lobby for better traffic arrangements especially in the Kandy – Katugastota and Kandy – Peradeniya roads where people have to spend hours to get through just a few kilometers.” The Chambers relocated to George E. de Silva Mawatha in Kandy town from Mahaiyawa in May 2007 to be more accessible to members. Inquiries can be made on Tel 081 -5623598