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Saturday, 28 April 2018 00:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen (far right) and NEDA Director Lakshman Wijewardene (far left) look on as INSEE [Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd.] Cement Executive Vice President and Sales & Marketing Director Jan Kunigk (second from left) and NEDA Chairman Omar Khamil (second from right) exchange singed Entrepreneur Partnering MoU documents on 25 April in Colombo
In a major boost to Sri Lankan entrepreneur development efforts, the country’ sole and fully integrated cement giant stepped in to support one of the biggest industry-entrepreneurial development projects introduced in the country.
“INSEE Cement is part of Thailand’s SIAM Group with operations in Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Together with the INSEE Cement team, we want to strengthen the construction practices in Sri Lanka” said INSEE (Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd.) Cement Executive Vice President and Sales & Marketing Director Jan Kunigk on 25 April in Colombo. Kunigk was addressing the launch event of the Entrepreneur Partnering session by the National Enterprise Development Agency (NEDA) under the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 25 April at the Ministry, Colombo 3. In this pioneering initiative, NEDA is partnering with INSEE Cement to provide new skills, and disseminate the latest industry and masonry technologies practiced around the world to 4,400 Lankan construction workers and masons in 45 cities across the country. The trainings at multiple levels are expected to continue through December. INSEE is investing approximately Rs 2.2 million in this project.
“INSEE Cement, previously known as Holcim Lanka, has always been committed to long-term development of its people and stakeholders. Masons are some of our key stakeholders who use our products and solutions,” Kunigk said. “As for solutions, INSEE Cement, with its previous experience, is the most innovative firm, and the leader of the Sri Lankan cement market. We are the only cement-manufacturing company in Sri Lanka that is fully integrated, including in distribution. This makes us not only committed to the Sri Lankan market, but also means a strength of employment provision with optimal composition. We now employ 20,000 directly and indirectly” he added.
Minister Rishad Bathiudeen commended INSEE Cement for joining this initiative and supporting NEDA’s national entrepreneur development efforts. “Encouraging entrepreneurs and making youth to not be a burden on state sector employment is part of the Unity Government’s reform vision. Self-employment can help our economy greatly. I commend INSEE Cement for stepping in to be part of Sri Lanka’s national entrepreneur development initiative.”
Once INSEE Cement’s technical skill-building of 4,400 freelance and non-freelance Lankan masons is completed by end of this December, NEDA plans to step in, take over and skill them on aspects of entrepreneurship, self-employment and SME generation.
Among the objectives of NEDA, as per the National Entrepreneur Development Act No. 17 of 2006, are stimulating growth, expansion and development of the Sri Lankan economy by encouraging, promoting and facilitating small and medium enterprise development within Sri Lanka, empowering people’s human capital development with technical skills, and facilitating the access of Lankan entrepreneurs.
