Ceylon Chamber National SME Forum 2022 kicks off tomorrow

Monday, 25 July 2022 00:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Supporting the small and medium enterprise sector and fostering constructive dialogue amongst public, private and non-Governmental stakeholders on navigating the ongoing economic crisis, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will conduct the National SME Forum 2022 on 26, 28 and 30 July as a virtual event, on the theme ‘Way Forward for SMEs to Navigate Through the Crisis’,

With the SME sector among the hardest hit by the current crisis, the Forum will provide a crucial and timely opportunity to engage high-level public sector officials, industry experts, organisations engaged in SME development and other players in the SME ecosystem, in mapping an urgent course of survival and recovery. Widely acknowledged as a key driver of change for inclusive economic growth, regional development, employment generation and poverty reduction, the sustainability of the SME sector will play a vital role in national economic recovery. Currently mired under multiple operational, logistical and policy challenges, including skyrocketing costs of production, falling demand, challenges in sourcing production inputs and maintaining sustainable operations amidst continual power interruptions and fuel shortages, the Forum will address these and other issues, while exploring strategies to facilitate SMEs to transform from survival to growth and expansion.

The three-day event will focus on three respective themes addressing critical challenges specific to SMEs and also provide insights into the current macro-environment. Day one of the event will focus on the ‘Current economic situation and the way forward for SMEs’, examining the events leading to the current crisis and understanding fiscal policy decisions and their implications. Days two and three will be based on the themes on ‘Managing your finances’ and ‘Dealing with challenges in the supply chain’ respectively, exploring strategies to navigate increasing inflation, interest rates and costs of production, and strategically navigating export market opportunities, regulations and challenges.

The Forum will be conducted via Zoom from 7 – 8.30 p.m. on 26, 28 and 30 July and will also be live streamed via Facebook on facebook.com/Centreforsmes. For more details and information on how to register, please contact [email protected].

GS1 Lanka is the Platinum sponsor of the National SME Forum 2022, which is also sponsored by Lanka Pay and Seylan Bank.