Archives

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has recommended to the Government to form an Inter-Ministerial working group with representation by high level officials to develop a strategy and action plans in network partnership with the chamber.

The CCC Chairman, Chandra Jayaratne in a letter to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed that the working group should be led by high level officials of the Ministry of Policy Development and Implementation and should include the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Economic Reforms and Science and Technology, Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment promotions, Tourism, Mass Communication and the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs;

The letter states: "We applaud the initiatives taken by the Government under your leadership to set up working groups to develop sectoral policies aimed at attaining national economic growth on a sustainable basis.

We believe, that effective economic diplomacy initiatives can enhance value addition to the national economy. Our submission to your Government titled "Strategies for Growth leveraging the Private Sector" canvassed this point. We also believe that the Sri Lankan Diaspora living overseas can effectively be leveraged to support peace and economic reform initiatives of your Government by encouraging them to exploit trade, investments and technology transfer opportunities.

There are case studies of strategies adopted in other countries, which Sri Lanka can use as models to fully leverage economic diplomacy and the Sri Lankan Diaspora in adding value through the exploitation of trade, investments and technology transfers opportunities."

Mr. Jayaratne in his letter also proposed the following action to be taken towards this purpose:

a) Establishing a complete database of Sri Lankan Diaspora living overseas;

b) Effectively networking with the Sri Lankan Diaspora in overseas countries through organised Associations;

c) Extending the Sri Lankan identity among the Diaspora members by promoting Sri Lanka's cultural and heritage related events;

d) Establishing a web portal to effectively network with and among the Diaspora;

e) Establishing an incentive and recognition framework to encourage national economic value addition, leveraging trade, investment and technology transfer options.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager