• GR discusses long-term economic recovery with private sector
• Says economic resurgence should be based on production and manufacturing 
• Economic growth should be inclusive and sustainable 
• Wants special focus on agriculture 

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called on the private sector to formulate and present to the Government policies needed to strengthen inclusive and sustainable growth, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement yesterday.  “It is easy to import everything and sell. If we do so we will not be able to build a strong economy. Growth of the economy must take place in a manner that secures the wellbeing of all segments of society. 

Inthis regard the contribution and new approaches of the private sector are pivotal,” President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said during the discussion on Thursday.

President Rajapaksa stated that his objective was to bring about a balanced growth in all sectors of the economy and suggested to the private sector to come up with measures that would help reaching this goal and identify obstacles that stand in the way.

The President recently decided to meet with private sector entrepreneurs with the aim of reviving the economy, which is in doldrums due to the spread of COVID-19, and achieving long-term economic development.

Thursday’s meeting was with the second such group. Leading businessmen representing various sectors including tourism, construction, communication technology, hotel and hospitality, herbal products, livestock, dairy, salt production, agro products, minor export crops, and organic farming were present at the discussion

The entrepreneurs hailed President Rajapaksa’s consistent and systematic policies to build a strong economy and praised concessions provided for economic growth in the 2021 Budget.

Briefing the President on the current situation of their businesses, they explained the prevailing issues faced by them. Lack of skilled manpower, institutional inefficiency, shortage of building materials, lethargy of some employees and difficulty in finding new markets were among the main issues they mentioned.

“Economic empowerment of all segments of the society is a priority. Farmers make 35% of the population of our country. Agriculture is linked to the livelihood of 70% of the population. While increasing the productivity of this sector youth should be attracted to it,” the President added.

Rajapaksa assured the entrepreneurs that solutions would be provided for the problems faced by them after a careful study. Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera and Board of Investment Chairman Sanjaya Mohottala were also present.

Govt. allocates Rs. 700 m to 2,000 families to grow fruits for export