Over $ 40 m grant from EU and UNIDO for sustainable industrial development in SL

• Plans underway to formulate and implement National Industrial Policy

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Representative in Sri Lanka Dr. Rane Van Berkel said the European Union has provided a $ 22.83 million and € 18.75 million grant for the sustainable industrial development in Sri Lanka.

This was revealed at a steering committee meeting to formulate Sri Lanka’s National Industrial Policy in Colombo recently. The meeting was chaired by UNIDO Sri Lanka Representative Dr. Burkel and Industries Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara.  The joint steering committee for the implementation of the National Policy has been prepared with the contribution of many public and private sector organisations such as the Plantation and Industries Ministry, UNIDO, EU, Power and Energy Ministry, Environment Ministry, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development Board and many other organisations. 

The committee provides coordination and recommendations for the projects implemented by the UNIDO in Sri Lanka. The formulation of Sri Lanka’s National Industrial Policy include; development of infrastructure in export-oriented industries, promotion of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), management of chemical use, ensuring food safety and quality, improvement of production value chains, minimisation of environmental impacts caused by industries, and pollution and energy management, which are some of the key areas that the EU and UNIDO are supporting Sri Lanka on. The amount of $ 22.83 million provided by the EU has been allocated for eight-year industrial development projects from 2015 to 2023, covering sectors such as climate change, energy management, and conversion to renewable energies affecting Sri Lanka’s industrial sector.  In addition, the EU and UNIDO have extended € 11 million for the development of agri-food production, enhancing food safety and quality, improving facilities, training, and laboratories for food quality control in Sri Lanka. It was noted that many of these projects are being implemented to improve facilities to ensure food chain development.

Another € 7.75 million has been allocated for industrial waste management activities in Sri Lanka and these projects have been implemented together with the Ministries of Industry, Environment as well as Power and Energy. Already, an Energy Management System has been developed with the support of 75 energy experts.

With the leadership of Plantation and Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, the Government is accelerating the implementation of the National Industrial Policy to boost the development of the industrial sector with product diversification, increase export revenues, manage energy and resources, enhance value chains, developing enterprise skills, improve industrial infrastructure, and boost economic growth. UNIDO National Director Nawaz Rajabdeen and key officials representing the public and private sectors participated in this event.