GIZ & CCC strengthen economic inclusivity within regions

Announce the launch of ‘SME-ProLink: Unity through Business’

In a bid to link the Northern and Southern SMEs to strengthen business and social relationships, while promoting unity and harmony among communities, GIZ SME Development Program in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has announced the launch of ‘SME-ProLink: Unity through Business’.

The two-day program will provide opportunity for 30SMEs from the Northern Province to meet, interact and share experiences with 30SMEs from the Southern Province along with technical service providers such as Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), universities and other leading corporates at one venue to exchange knowledge and create business linkages. 

‘SME-ProLink: Unity through Business’ will be held on 29 and 30 September at Reef Gardens Hotel in Polhengoda, Matara targeting food and beverage sector SMEs who have been in the industry for over two years and have the minimum turnover of Rs. 2 million per annum to enhance their business linkages, expand business contact, technology transfer and strengthen skills and capacities.

CCC Chairman Samantha Ranathunga said the SME sector was a fairly misunderstood and neglected sector which is now getting its right place.

“I think the initiative is a great step in the right direction. This will bring two important regions of the country that was alienated for many years together encouraging inclusivity within the regions,” he added.

GIZ SME Development Senior Advisor German Mueller said Sri Lankan Government places great emphasis on the SME sector, but it has not yet developed to its full potential.  

Outlining the drawbacks most SMEs face in the country he asserted that lack of access to finance, unknown companies (brands), and language differences were key issues. 

“We see that not many service providers are present in these underdeveloped areas. Whether the SMEs are based in North or South most of the issues that they face are similar. Therefore, in this initiative we try to bridge that gap of connectivity and we try to simplify the issues that these SMEs are facing at present,” Mueller added.

The GIZ and CCC firmly believe that this initiative will create opportunities for SMEs in two provinces to build new market linkages, facilitate expansion of their businesses to other parts of the country and thereby support addressing key regional economic disparities faced by SMEs.

CCC CEO and Secretary General Mangala Yapa said despite the effort of the Government to uplift the SME sector, their real contribution to the country’s economy is quite low. 

“Our economy is concentrated on the Western Province and very little has been focused outside the western province. Hence, there is a clear need that we integrate the provinces, share the income distribution equally among all regions and look forward for a holistic economic development,” he pointed.

Sri Lankan-German SME development program implemented by GIZ in cooperation with the Finance Ministry of Sri Lanka aims to support a cohesive policy framework enabling SMEs to grow in an inclusive and eco-friendly manner. The program is funded by the federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany.  

Giving an outlook of the GIZ SME Development approach on three key pillars GIZ SME Development Advisor Hasitha Wijesundara said they support the Government to have a national policy framework for SME Development, technology transfer and innovation and access to finance.