Sri Lanka Economic Association on 21-22 October to focus on fiscal reforms

Monday, 10 October 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Fiscal Reforms: an Imperative for Sustained Growth’ will be the theme of the forthcoming Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Economic Association scheduled to take place on October 21 and 22 at Hotel Taj.

The Sessions will focus on the need to strengthen macroeconomic fundamentals through a stabilisation program focused on fiscal consolidation.

The Sessions will also focus on the need for a development policy and plan of action, so as to achieve sustained inclusive growth.

As fiscal sector imbalances and inefficiencies have contributed to stunting the country’s growth initiatives, the issue was whether fiscal targets could be met in a growth-friendly way.

The budget imbalance had to be brought to an acceptable level; and the foreign debt contracted and directed toward productive investments.

The competitiveness of the economy and business environment must be improved: so rapid economic progress could be accomplished through a private sector led development strategy, and with exports and FDI as key pillars.

At the Inauguration of the Annual Sessions on the 21st, the Chief Guest will be the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy.

The Keynote speaker will be the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank W. A. Wijewardena and the Guest of Honor, Resident Representative of IMF for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr. Eteri Kvintradze.

At four technical sessions on October 22 papers on the following topics will be presented and discussed by academics and economic professionals:

Present Fiscal Policy and Status.

Resource gap and revenue mobilisation.

Is there a debt crisis or not?

Resource gap and public investment.

Public debt sustainability.

Enabling environment for the domestic private investor.

Good Governance for FDI

FDI trends in Asia including Sri Lanka

Strengthening of national policies

Enhancing productivity and export competitiveness