Export Promotion Villages to boost exports

Shirajiv Sirimane

BOOST FOR EXPORTS: The Government would establish Export Promotion Villages to boost Sri Lanka’s exports, said Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G. L. Peiris.

Making the keynote address at the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) luncheon held in Colombo yesterday he said that the Government has identified that there is growing regional disparity in the country. While the Western Province enjoys the highest per capita income other provinces have a lower income.

“We have identified that one way to bridge this gap is to set up Export Promotion Villages which would contribute to make rural people access more money,” he said. This would also lead to enhancement of lifeprospects of the rural folk at the grass roots level.

The Minister also said that Government is very keen to increase exports and the proposed Export Village concept would help towards achieving this objective. “It has also been decided to present a master plan in this regard to President Mahinda Rajapaksa next week,” he said.

He said that some people say that the ethnic conflict should be given priority over development. “However this is not a realistic attitude at all,” the Minister said.

The Minister also said that Sri Lanka has gone through several problems and during those times it has bounced back and re-established itself even to better positions. “This resilience is something Sri Lankans can be proud of,” he said.

Tourism is one such area where there were a lot of problems and all the time the industry bounced back.

Prof. Peiris said that the present electoral system should change, as it is the root cause of corruption, as a candidate has to spend a lot of money to enter Parliament. “There are several discussions in this area but the implementation is still delayed,” he said.