IDB to work with chambers to boost micro, small entrepreneurs
Thursday, 10 April 2014 01:12
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The Industrial Development Board (IDB) is to work closely with regional and district chambers to strengthen micro and small industries.
IDB Chairman Nawaz Rajabdeen said that regional and district chambers can partner the IDB in facilitating the entrepreneurs to obtain technical support and training which will help improve productivity and quality of the goods manufactured by them.
This will create a public private partnership and thereby give confidence to micro and small industrialists, said Rajabdeen. He said that IDB would like to sign MOUs with all regional and district chambers in the country so that they can play a very important role in helping the industrial sector.
The chambers can also obtain the support of the IDB to resurrect the sick industries and draw a three year plan for improving the quality and increasing productivity so that industries can become competitive and be on par with the foreign products that are dumped in the market at present.
IDB is also very closely working with institutions for branding and setting standards for products manufactured in the country and assist in finding markets through industrial exhibitions in the country which are conducted by the private and the public sector.
IDB Acting Director General and Chief Engineer P.L.U. Ratnamalala said that they are fabricating local machinery for different sectors such as fruit and vegetables, light engineering industries as well as coir based industries.
He said that through the regional network IDB is facilitating industrialists to improve the quality of the products. IDB is also planning to help industries based in all industrial estates to improve quality, productivity and the eco friendliness. In addition IDB will select those who are performing at present and reward them. This will encourage all other industrialists also to follow them and be winners, said Ratnamalala.
He said that there are several inquiries from industrialists to obtain plots of land from the industrial estates. IDB does a thorough screening process prior to giving a land to an industrialist and this has helped IDB to get the best industrialists to start businesses in the industrial estates. IDB comes under the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and is celebrating 45 years and is the premier agency for industrial development and promotion in the country.
