Bathiudeen starts third Industry and Commerce stint

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen assumed duties at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce yesterday - Pic by Upul Abayasekara

Sri Lanka is mulling a bigger role for the private sector through planned industry and commerce reforms.

“I look forward to an increased role and support of Lankan business, exports and investment communities in our next stage of industry and commerce development. As we enter a new era of social unity, Sri Lankans of all hues are rallying round the joint and consensual efforts of both leaders,” said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was speaking to several representatives from the business, industry and investment communities, political figures, clergy and supporters ahead of assuming duties as Industry and Commerce Minister for the third consecutive time on 9 September at the ministry premises.

Minister Bathiudeen, an MP from the Vanni District, first took over the Industry and Commerce portfolio in 2011 (in the seventh Parliament) and was reappointed for the second time in the same seventh Parliament after the 8 January presidential elections. 

“With the formation of the consensual Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, we are witnessing meaningful democracy in action in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans are rallying round the joint and consensual efforts of both leaders. There are no more serious threats to our civil liberties as it were, and we thank both the President and Prime Minister for their courageous leadership during the 8 January revolution,” said Minister Bathiudeen. 

“As a new entrant to the lower middle income ranks, Sri Lanka’s next stage of economic development, as envisioned by the new Government is based on the social market economic model. Under the social market economic model, the Government’s vision is to develop the economy through an ambitious five-pillar concept and exports development. In fact exports and manufacturing are to play the lead role in our country’s rise within the middle income ranks. We want to enlist the private sector more and more.”

Since taking over the Industry and Commerce Ministry in 2011, Minister Bathiudeen has been at the forefront in representing Sri Lanka at several global, multilateral and regional foras. Among his many notable achievements was Minister Bathiudeen’s selection to the Chairmanship of the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Ministerial Council in August 2013. Minister Bathiudeen was also listed among the 500 most influential Muslim leaders in the 2013/14 Muslim500 global ranking. He was the fourth Sri Lankan to enter this ranking since 2010.