North Central Province entrepreneurs’ seminar and exhibition on program to develop 2,000 exporters

The sixth seminar for the North Central Province entrepreneurs on the national program of developing 2,000 new exporters was held on 22 February at The Golden Mango Resort, Anuradhapura (Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura).

The first seminar was held on 23 March 2017, launching the program for Northern Province entrepreneurs in Jaffna and the second phase of the seminar was held in Kandy for the Central Province entrepreneurs. The third phase was held for the Southern Province entrepreneurs in Matara. The fourth phase was held for the North Western Province entrepreneurs in Kurunegala. The fifth seminar was held for the Sabaragamuwa Province entrepreneurs in Kegalle.

The EDB is implementing a national program to nurture 2,000 new entrepreneurs to become exporters during the period 2017-2022 at regional level. The main objective of this program is to encourage domestic enterprises to invest in export industries to achieve the overall export target of $ 28 billion in 2022.

The program includes an awareness program for entrepreneurs, a technological display for the export industry for school students to educate about the export sector, a discussion with top business leaders to attract them to the export sector.

The Mini Exhibition on technology is with the participation of stakeholder organisations relevant for the export sector representing Industrial Development Board (IDB), Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD), Post-Harvest Technology Institute (PHTI), Department of Export Agriculture (DEA), Coconut Development Authority (CDA), Sri Lanka Institutes of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Lanka Ltd. and Tulip Technologies Ltd. 

The seminar will focus on introducing export business opportunities for development of products suitable for the province including spice products, ornamental articles, processed foods, ayurvedic products, coir products, and ornamental fish and wellness tourism with a view to increase export supplies from the province of those potential products and services.

Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development P. Harrison, Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Dry Zone Development Chandrani Bandara, Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade Secretary S.T. Kodikara, Export Development Board Chairperson and Chief Executive Indira Malwatte and officials of government and private sector graced this occasion.