Cargills Chief calls for biz community involvement

Thursday, 18 December 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Marisa Wikramanayake Cargills Deputy Chairman and CEO Ranjit Page opened the proceedings at the Galadari Hotel and stated that it was important that the business community become more involved in the development process.

“Sri Lanka has to be built and developed with institutions; institutions that are sustainable,” he said. “Companies have a role to play in development and they must play that role.” He also stressed that this was how Japan had developed after losing World War II and suffering massive losses and damage. “It was the brands, the companies and the institutions that made Japan what it is today,” he said. “Not the state agencies.” He also stated that it was worth revisiting and looking at the attitudes towards business that underpinned each company, and stated that this was what Cargills had done, beginning in 1999. “Can we send money to rural Sri Lanka instead of sending it overseas?” he asked the delegates, pointing out that this would help develop the country. “It is for Sri Lanka that we work – it is not for a company or an individual.”