Women entrepreneurs meet President

Monday, 11 August 2014 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Women entrepreneurs were invited by the Ministry of Finance for a pre-budget meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat with the participation of Minister of Economic Development, Minster of Traditional Industries, Small Enterprises, Minister of Co-Operative and Internal Trade other relevant officials of the ministries.

The majority of the women entrepreneurs thanked the President for the interest free loans granted for micro and small industries gave the support they needed to improve their industrial growth. Some participants were granted loans on the occasion and the President instructed the industrial development board to facilitate and the obtaining of the required funds for the improvement of their respective industries. President Rajapaksa was pleased that most of the participants requested for market access for their products overseas, and for long term loans to be granted for the purchase of transport vehicles. The women entrepreneurs are involved in the manufacturing of a wide range of local products such as batik, children garments, handlooms, ceramics, agro-based products, food products, dairy products, herbal cosmetics, red clay jewellery, leather products, and kitul honey.

The Chairman of the Industrial Development Board undertook to help improve the packaging, branding and obtaining of certificates for the women entrepreneurs’ product and to assist in developing markets both locally and overseas. A separate unit in the IDB will be set up for the marketing of these products, and improve their existing standards and branding. The Regional Development Bank has played a very important role in identifying micro and small industries and facilitating support for these industries in the count ry. President Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked all the ministries for supporting SMEs to improve their living standards and generating employment.