Sri Lanka calls for linking of intra-SAARC value chains

It is important to link intra-SAARC industry value chains and develop complementary production operations and as a result, regional integration in trade in goods and services including engineering services and investment would be placed as the highest priority area in the South Asian region, says Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the inauguration of the fifth convention and 10th apex body meeting of the SAARC Diploma Engineering Forum (SDEF) and 33rd annual sessions of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers Sri Lanka (IIESL) on Friday 29 July in Colombo. Minister Bathiudeen is one of the members of IIESL.

“It is important to link intra-SAARC industry value chains and develop complementary production operations.  Developing the requisite expertise which can support industries and the economy is very essential.  Engineering, science, IT, technical skills, etc. need to be developed in a larger proportion of the workforce. I wish to mention that our Government has taken major initiatives under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana – Ten Year Horizon Development Policy Framework’ to achieve sustainable economic growth, in order to enhance the living standards of the people,” he said.

“Last year, Sri Lanka recorded an impressive 8.1% economic growth. As envisioned, to achieve a growth rate of 9% and above from 2012 onwards, we are taking steps to identify and enter into new strategic and emerging industries and services, which have much higher income earning potential. In this context, I am confident that a convention of this nature will pave the way to share and disseminate the expertise, knowledge and experience of engineers of SAARC countries, in their respective fields, for the economic betterment of the member countries,” he added.

Speaking on the South Asian region, Minister Bathiudeen said: “The South Asian region has faced with numerous challenges to improve the quality of life of the people.  During the last two decades, the region has gone through an economic slowdown, attributable to factors such as natural disasters, i.e. floods, droughts, earthquakes and the tsunami, the spill-over effects of the global financial and economic crises and many more such difficulties. Further, there is still an unacceptable level of poverty in South Asia. Against this background, regional integration in trade in goods, services including engineering services and investment would be placed as the highest priority area in our region. It is a commonly argued fact that the region can face the challenges much more effectively as a united group. It is obvious that economic integration and interdependence at regional level would create avenues for exploiting the synergies and expand economic opportunities available towards strengthening the economic development process.”

Speaking of his relations with the IIESL, he said: “The Institution of Incorporated Engineers of Sri Lanka, which was established in 1977, has now thousands of members who are actively engaged in various fields of engineering and contribute immensely for the development and advancement of the country.  I am proud to be one of them.”

“All the engineers in the SAARC region have key roles to play not only for the benefit of their own country but also for intraregional mutual development. I am glad to note that highly resourceful engineering diplomates are presenting their comprehensive technical papers pertaining to each SAARC country today.  This will be a good opportunity for them to share their expertise knowledge and experience with a view to further reaping benefits among the SAARC member countries. It is very important that we work hard to develop our region with a view to getting much closer economically, socially, culturally and politically.  This will pave the way for strengthening our cooperation and marching towards achieving mutual benefits,” Minister Bathiudeen said.