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| Friday, 24 December 2004 |
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NEDB to help SME sector by Irangika Range The government will provide direct funds, credit guarantee schemes, equity and debt capital and restructuring aid to promote SME sector including gem and jewellery manufacturers through the National Enterprises Development Bank(NEDB) which is to be set up in the near future, Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development, Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the "3rd Ruhunu Ran Ridee Jewellery Collection", an exhibition and sale of the southern jewellers at the Crescat Boulvard, Colombo, the Minister said the government is aware of the important contribution made by SMEs in the development of the national enterprises in the country to increase export revenue. The event is organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) and it will be held till December 24. "We have taken a number of steps to promote the sector placing greater emphasis on rural development which would effectively unlock the potential of local resources, accelerate public investment, develop infrastructure and boost the socio-economic levels," he said. "The show features eleven jewellers from the sourthern province. The exhibitors having undergone a number of training programmes conducted by the EDB on stone setting, jewellery designing, product quality and market development programmes display jewellery crafted with guest attention and precision. Last year, the event was held in the same premises and SMEs have obtained orders including spot sales which made the program very successful. To cater the SMEs needs, the EDB has established three Provincial offices in Kandy, Kurunegala and Galle. E-Commerce Centres in the regions have also been established in order to extend EDB services to the provincial level," he said. |
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