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| Wednesday, 17 November 2004 |
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Japan's envoy stresses need to improve key sectors by Irangika Range Foreign Capital, technology and services play a major role in the development of any country. These sectors would improve local industries through the creation of employment, development of human resources and reproduction cycles said Japan's Ambassador Akio Suda in his presentation of "Sri Lanka and its future in Japan's Eyes" organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) on Monday. The Ambassador said Japan is Sri Lanka's biggest donor and it has pledged over US$ 230 million in grants and concessionary aid of the total US$ 532 million in foreign aid receipts to Sri Lanka in 2003. "Japan also pledged US$ 250 million under a new special aid scheme for peace building, large scale business developments, funding small business developments, environmental developments and micro-finance projects around the country," the envoy said. He said that business circles are expected to play a significant role compared to politicians, bureaucrats, social workers academics and the mass media to get steady and efficient development in the country. " Business circles including the CCC have been increasingly raising voices not only on economic, financial and development issues, but also on social and political issues of the country including peace and stability," he said. The Ambassador said Sri Lanka has many attractive tourism sites with first class hotels near the beaches and in areas of cultural interest. " I have seen that some places of tourists interest in this country can be developed. The local handicrafts in these areas are not well presented, shops and streets are not clean and sometimes people cheat and mislead tourists. This situation should be changed. Local government, tourism industrialists and local communities should work together to develop the industry," the said. He said Sri Lanka needs to start business by getting many people involved locally. It would be much better for the country if firms can provide some benefits through their own business activities rather than just give a donation to people. He said Sri Lanka has a very limited scale of interactions with East Asia, compared to its large-scale traditional interaction with Europe and South Asia. East Asia has unprecedented economic growth and countries such as Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore are industrialised and developed," he said. |
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