District-wise One-Stop-Shop Centres to serve SMEs

Cabinet has approved a proposal for the establishment of ‘One-Stop-Shop Centres’ to provide all services related to micro, small and medium scale enterprises at one location.

The service centres will be based in 25 districts in the country and will operate in collaboration with other relevant government agencies and relevant parties.

Micro and small enterprises (SMEs) are estimated to contribute 52% to the country’s GDP and provide livelihoods to more than three million people. That is about 45% of the country’s total employment.

Because of the prevailing institutional methodology for providing business services, these entrepreneurs are inconvenienced by the fact that the same work is carried out by different agencies.

Hence Cabinet approved the proposal by Minister of Small and Medium Scale Business and Enterprise Development Wimal Weerawansa to establish the service centers. (CK)