Rishad aiming for strong play at Mannar Divineguma

The forthcoming Divineguma show at Mannar will be an ideal opportunity to start off the industry base in the region. Also, the region’s apparels too will be able to showcase their products according to Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the special high level inter-Ministerial and inter-departmental preparation meeting held on 21 December at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce premises.

Also taking part in the meeting were officials from the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Department of Commerce, and the Export Development Board.

The next Divi Neguma National Exhibition on Cottage Industry will be held at Mannar on 21 January and 22, 2012 under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Development.

“This will be an ideal opportunity to start off the industry base, specially the cottage, in the Mannar region. Also it can help in exposing new employment opportunities,” Minister Bathiudeen said, adding, “We will cover both SME and Micro industry sectors in this event. We also want to enlist the handlooms and apparels from the region along with the Textile Department under my Ministry.”

Minister Bathiudeen also stated that he is mulling an entrepreneur capacity building effort at the Mannar show through NEDA.  

The initial one million home gardens, livestock, poultry, fisheries and one million domestic economic units target under this program as proposed by the 2011 budget proposals, has now been increased to 2.5 million by the budget proposals of 2012.

The programme is considered as a “strong pillar in Mahinda Chinthana Vision for the Future” and is being implemented under five line ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The Export Development Board (EDB) and National Entrepreneurs Development Authority (NEDA) of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce contribute to the programme according to the vested subject areas.

Along with the officials present were Tilak Collure, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Ms Sujatha Weerakoone, Director General of EDB.