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Thursday, 4 December 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From left: GIZ Senior Advisor German Mueller, GIZ Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Randa Kourieh Ranarivelo and German Ambassador Dr. Jurgen Morhard
The exhibition was organised by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) SME Development Program together with SLSI, the Sri Lanka Food Processors’ Association (SLFPA) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC).
Against the backdrop of poor quality products entering the local market, especially food products, the Government introduced new laws and quality standards through the SLSI. However, access to the quality standards of the SME sector in Sri Lanka still must be developed.
The Sri Lankan Government places great emphasis on the SME sector as the backbone of economy and an engine for growth and jobs, especially in rural and former conflict-affected areas.
SLSI believes that to get the full potential of the SME sector it has to apply modern technology and be resource-efficient.
It is important to get standards to produce safer products, promote international trade, expand the local market and demand as well as improve the quality of life. The SME pavilion supports 50 regional SMEs to explore new markets and learn more about international certification.
Secretary Ministry of Technology and Research, Dhara Wijayatilake, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Senior Advisor GIZ SME Development, German Mueller, SLSI Director General Dr. Lalith Senaweera and German Ambassador Dr. Jurgen Morhard
The SLSI listed quality and safety, cost-saving, legal compliance, compatibility, variety reduction, competitive advantage, innovations and easy access to the markets as some benefits of the standards.
A group of 300 SMEs, who were selected with the support of the CCC, participated in the event learning how to expand with standards certified and services offered by SLSI.
The SME pavilion featured stalls of the SLSI, SLFPA, CCC and partner SMEs representing various sectors. Foods and beverages, handicrafts, construction equipment, fancy products and other SME products which are under the program are showcased at the exhibition.
Senior Advisor GIZ German Müller said the Sri Lankan-German SME Development Program supported inclusive growth of the SME sector island-wide, with a special focus on less developed regions such as the Northern, Eastern and Uva Provinces.
He said when enterprises were enabled to introduce standards, they could upgrade their business.
“This will provide access to new markets, locally and globally, resulting in a stronger economy for the entire country,” he added.
GIZ works with national providers to help them offer improved and comprehensive services to SMEs in all national languages.
The Sri Lankan-German SME Development Program is implemented by GIZ in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and Planning, aiming to support a cohesive policy framework enabling SMEs to grow in an inclusive and eco-friendly manner.
Through a wide range of technical assistance, it helps enhance competitiveness of SMEs through technology transfer, innovation and improved access to finance. The program is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany.
GIZ’s cooperation with SLSI also covers the revision of the National Quality Policy (NQP), currently underway. The Ministry of Technology and Research (MoTR) is responsible for the NQP and has mandated SLSI to carry out the actual policy development process. GIZ is supporting this process by providing international expertise.
The exhibition will be staged until 7 December at the BMICH.– Pix by Upul Abeyasekara
