Chamber of Tourism and Industries ties up with IIDT

Monday, 2 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Chamber of Tourism and Industries (CT&I), working largely with the informal sector with particular focus on lobbying and supporting formalisation, signed an MoU with the International Institute of Development Training (IIDT) on 30 May. IIDT, an institution specialising in development training and social research is the pioneering partner for International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its state-of-the-art enterprise management training system Business Edge (BE).

IIDT has a genuine interest to support the development of the micro medium and small enterprises through training and capacity building. The two institutions signed the MoU in view of promoting services related to livelihood development, training and research for the betterment of the stakeholders through a range of approaches that would benefit informal sector linked to tourism. “I believe that this bilateral agreement would largely support the development of the tourism sector in the country. We need to focus more on women entrepreneurs in the region who are capable to becoming part of the larger value chains. They have the capacity to supply varieties of produce consumed by small and large hotels,” said CT&I President A.M. Jaufer. IIDT Chairman Avanthi Jayatilake, IIDT Managing Director Dr. Manitha Weerasuriya, CT&I Secretary General U.P.S. Pathirana and EML Group Chairman Thilak Hewawasam were also present at the event. Jayatilake pointed out the potential marketing opportunities for the informal sector through various development programs that are active in the country. CT&I is presently on a membership drive, planning includes formal and informal sectors associated with the hospitality industry and to cover the entire country including North and East. CT&I works towards providing services and assistance required by the leisure industry towards its sustainable development.