Businesses should move out of Western Province - Cabraal

There is an urgent need for businesses to move out of the Western Province so that economic growth could be directed to the other Provinces, while the Government for their part would develop roads, railway lines and give deferential for electricity as an incentive to the investors, Advisor to President and Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation, Nivard Cabraal said.

Making a presentation on 'the Government's economic and social policies and its impact on the Private Sector' organized by Sri Lanka - China Business Council, recently he said the main focus would be on economic growth through a national orientation and advantages will be given to Sri Lankan industry and Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.

Cabraal in his address mentioned that the Government is focusing on improving the Pubic Sector, which would inadvertently benefit the Private Sector. He stated that the main thrust in Government is based on the 'Mahinda Chinthana', which has been endorsed by the people, and further stated that they are looking at the Millennium Development Goals as outlined by the United Nations policies.

Cabraal said that Sri Lanka has had a growth of 5.9 per cent despite the oil crisis, and tsunami, which reduced tourism by 60 per cent and fisheries by 40 per cent, and stated that the Government is looking into possible growth targets in areas of industry and services, to achieve an economic growth of 8 per cent.

He said the GDP contribution from Western Province is 50.1 per cent, while all the other Provinces contribute 49.9 per cent and although the per capita income of Sri Lanka is said to be US$ 1,200, all provinces other than the Western Province has a per capita income less than US$ 600.

He informed that the Government wants to move to a growth model whereby persons within certain industries could branch out to other areas within the same industry, for example in the Agriculture Sector farmers through proper training would be able to move into areas such as agro based products manufacture.

He further said that the fisheries industry has great potential, however the natural resources of the country are not fully utilised.

Speaking on the socio aspects he stated that the Government is in the process of building 25 houses yearly, in each of the 14,000 villages of the country, through which they hope to improve economic activity and development.