Northern Renaissance:

Micros and SMEs to boost industrial resurgence

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

UNIDO enlisted micros and SMEs will speed an industrial resurgence in the North and East briming economic development to the war torn area.

Nawas Rajabdeen

"As once war affected North and East regions have now re-joined the country's GDP scheme, UNIDO is moving to resurrect the regional chambers of these provinces and other parts of the country. Our regional chambers can get involved in identifying the industrial requirements of the areas, the availability of indigenous raw material and in facilitation of the progress of the SME' sector" National Director of UNIDO-Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen told the Daily News Business.

He made these views after discussions on regional chamber enlistment at the UNIDO-Colombo office recently. "With the Industry and Commerce Ministry, UNIDO focal point in Colombo is planning to extend technical support in setting up micro and small industries-especially in the war affected region of the North and East", Rajabdeen said.

"But our scope is not only for the North and East" he said. In 2011, the North and East economic growth rate stood at 22 percent, above the 8.2 percent national average.

Sri Lanka plans to double the region's GDP contribution by 2014.

"We believe that the regional chambers are capable of making a stronger contribution than at present.

Vast array of opportunities is available in the industries, such as, cement and agro based, light metal industry, and value addition for agro products, especially in the North and East.

"We want to enlist micro and SME sectors.

Developing these sectors will create job opportunities and enhance the living standards of the youths" he said.

"Regional chambers can get involved in identifying the industrial requirements of the area and the availability of indigenous raw material and facilitating the SME sector, and be the driver of industrial resurgence in the new economic upswing." Rajabdeen said.