PM invites business community to build an export economy

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday invited the country’s business community and the entrepreneurs to support the Government to build an export economy.

Wickremesinghe said the Government had planned to make Sri Lanka’s economy a totally export and tourism based economy and regaining the GSP Plus tariff concession was a positive boost for such an economy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of FlexiPrint, a new industrial complex in Kadawatha, the Premier said the biggest market in the world was now available to Sri Lanka through the GSP+ concession.

“As the Government, we are committed to provide all necessary facilities to the business community in order to build an export economy. We expect that through the expansion of businesses within the country, there will be more job opportunities available to the citizens of Sri Lanka,” he said.

“It is our hope to place special emphasis on allocating the required funds and resources on training a new workforce,” he said.

At the occasion, the Premier also met with the FlexiPrint CEO Sathis Abeywickrama and his executive team and engaged in a long discussion regarding the problems faced by businesses in the country.

The Prime Minister also exchanged views pertaining to reaping the benefits of GSP+, restored under the Government, as well as the new laws regarding waste disposal and recycling set to be presented by the Government.

“I had the opportunity to engage in a productive discussion with Sri Lanka’s leading businessmen regarding the new plans surrounding the aftermath of the GSP+ concession, as well as the new anti-dumping laws,” the Premier said.

“The business groups present at this opening displayed strong interest regarding the proposed regulations pertaining to waste disposal and recycling. It is my belief that the implementation of these rules will prove to be an immense assistance to the business community, the public, and towards achieving sustainable development,” he noted.