'Back to Business' voted most innovative post-tsunami programme
Shirajiv Sirimane
ACCOLADE: The 5th World Chamber Congress has voted the 'Back to
Business' programme launched by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FCCISL) as the most innovative post tsunami programme in
the world.
|
RECOGNITION: President FCCISL Nawaz Rajabdeen after receiving
the award Presented by Chairman, ICC World Chambers Rona Yircali
and Chairman Worldchambers Competition Avijit Mazumdar in
Turkey. Former President of FCCISL Macky Hashim was present. |
Programmes from over 250 countries were forwarded for this event,
which was held in Istanbul, Turkey last week, and the organisers have
presented the award to Sri Lanka.
The World Congress states that this programme was the most efficient
and innovative post tsunami reconstruction programme that was launched
in the world, for the small and medium sector.
Under the programme 11,120 enterprises were brought back to business
which was recognised as 110 per cent of reaching the target. A sum of Rs.
744 million was also mobilised through this programme with 227 million
coming through grants and the balance through bank facilitation.
President FCCISL, Nawaz Rajabdeen said that this is a rare honour for
a small country like Sri Lanka. "We are also happy that the 'Back to
Business', project has once again being recognised," he said.
The FCCISL has a membership of over 40 trade and industrial Chambers
and commodity sectoral associations spread throughout the country and
has the highest number of regional chambers. These bodies collectively
represent over 11,000 business enterprises of all legal forms.
"Soon after the tsunami we set up help and information desks to
assess the economic destruction in the SME sector," he said. "We found
out that most of the small and micro enterprises had lost their
livelihoods and they were looking for financial assistance to recommence
their businesses," he said.
Rajabdeen said that due to high collateral requested by the banking
sector they could not go to them as well.
It was at this time that the FCCISL came forward with the 'Back to
Business.' Under this programme the FCCISL not only awarded credit
facilities but also launched several training programmes.
"We have provided credit facilities for over 10,000 people under this
back to business programmes," he said.
The programme was conduced in association with the Reconstruction and
Development Agency (RADA), International Labour Organisation (ILO), and
Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA). It was sponsored by the
Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Sri Lanka and the Government
of Norway. "The programme also received recognition from President
Mahinda Rajapaksa who noted its progress regularly and commended it," he
said.
Secretary General, FCCISL Samantha Abeywickrama made a presentation
at the event.
|
