All sectors of the economy are achieving positive growth, according to Sri Lanka's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen.
Further remarking that private sector was responsible for 75% of the GDP of the country, he also noted that this segment of Sri Lanka must endeavour to meet the growth targets put forward by the government. He also noted that his ministry was playing its part by appointing a high-powered, seven member committee to formulate a 10-year plan which would also include improving the Indo Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, particularly with regard to its impact on industries and small and medium enterprises.
He also suggested that anyone could submit to him, through affiliated professional bodies, chambers and companies, proposals which could be helpful in improving growth so that these could be incorporated into the 2011 national budget, which would be made public in the next four months.
Making these comments on Wednesday at the inaugural dinner of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Business Leaders Summit 2010, Mr. Bathiudeen also urged the private sector to enter new areas, and highlighted hotels in the North as well as agriculture and fisheries as possibilities. He also encouraged exploring the employment of groups such as war widows.
A full-day conference held in Colombo this week, this event featured a number of presentations by local and foreign resource people; including a report by the country's Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman, Jayampathy Bandaranayake, which covered domestic opportunities for growth in the areas as diverse as investments, tourism, exports, etc.
Slated presentations also included: "Re-create your Mind DNA" by Reg Athwal, Founder of RAW Group LLC and Co-Founder and Chairman of OneTVO, Business Advisor and World-Renowned Speaker, based in Dubai; "It’s your future: take or lead it" by David Taylor, World acclaimed business management and motivational author / Honorary Professor of Leadership at the UK's Warwick University Business School; "Re-imagine and re-create Sri Lanka's Tourism Brand" by Sandie Dawe, Chief Executive of VisitBritain; "Re-imagine brand, re-create returns" by Ray Perry, Executive Director - Brand, Profile and Marketing of CIMA, UK; "Re-imagine and re-create, the JKH experience" by Ajit Gunewardene, Deputy Chairman of Sri Lanka's John Keells Holdings; and "Staying ahead in challenging times" by Mahesh Amalean, Chairman of Sri Lanka's MAS Holdings. |
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