Most proposals for Budget 2015 from SMEs: Rishad

Thursday, 2 October 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says 35 proposals forwarded
40 SMEs in pre-Budget consultations
8 women-headed SMEs!
NEDA did the work: Rishad

Sri Lanka’s SME sector is moving into high gear in the coming fiscal year and is making its voice heard in the country’s fiscal Budget for Y2015, as revealed on 30 September. An increased presence of Lankan women entrepreneurs in the effort is also reported.

“In the Sri Lankan context, more than 65% of GDP comes from the SME sector. NEDA has already received your inputs for Budget 2015 proposals through our Ministry meetings, and they are highest number of proposals, and have been forwarded by us to the Treasury,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 30 September in Matara. Bathiudeen was addressing the Southern Provincial Best Entrepreneur Awards (SPBEA) event at Sanaya Hotel, Matara. Organised by the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), which comes under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and co-organised by the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC), this awards series is designed to encourage the local business community to practice modern business methods, achieve high levels of entrepreneurship by adopting proper ethics and creating a pathway for them to venture into new areas of businesses. “In order to develop the SME sector under the committed vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, NEDA has launched many initiatives,” said Bathiudeen. “NEDA NEDA has also launched many initiatives to develop southern entrepreneurs.” Accordingly, NEDA has revealed that the highest-ever number of SMEs in any pre-Budget consultations by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce have been seen during this year’s July-August pre-Budget sessions. Almost 40 SMEs continuously took part in the sessions. Of the participating SMEs, eight were women entrepreneurs.

The Ministry MIC has submitted 35 SME proposals for consideration by the Treasury, for the forthcoming 2015 Budget. Also taking part were India’s Consulate General in Hambantota Raj Kumar, NEDA DG S. Saheed, Southern Provincial Council Minister D.V. Upul, HDCC Chairman Sugantha Akmeemana and top officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and NEDA.