Boom for businesses in developing countries - Dr. Hans Wijesuriya

Shirajiv Sirimane

There are more opportunities for the business sector in developing countries, CEO, Dialog Telecom, Dr. Hans Wijesuriya at the inauguration of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) National Conference 2007 held yesterday.

Dr. Wijesuriya, Guest Speaker of the event said: "If you go to developed countries you will not see any cranes or buildings being built. So there are only limited opportunities. However, in developing countries there are things happening, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow," he said.

Dr. Wijesuriya said this is why he is making an appeal to the professionals to stay in Sri Lanka and make

 use of these opportunities. He also said that in 10 years, innovation and service would be the most sought after products and professionals should gear themselves for it from now.

"This is the future," he said. Chief Guest, Investment Promotion and Enterprise Development Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama urged professionals to be more proactive in using the tenets of professionalism and ethics for the larger good of national development.

Welcoming the timely theme of 'Creating the DNA of Tomorrow's Professional' under the umbrella of the ACCA global series Professionalism & Ethics, the Minister said professionals today drive business, economies and nations.

Undoubtedly then, it is professionals who must be the change agents, who are able to conquer the challenges of an evolving world and using emerging opportunities to succeed.

"Sri Lanka has done well to introduce relevant global legislation in place and this in return has brought multiple benefits to the country," Amunugama said. He said that Sri Lanka may be the only country in Asia to have been awarded the GSP Plus facility which helps to obtain benefits when exporting to Europe. "This was not achieved by the efforts by the Government. It was purely achieved through the efforts of the private sector which adopted sound labour practices," he said.

Vice President, ACCA (Global Council) Brendan Murtagh who explained that Professionalism and Ethics are issues that are inextricably intertwined and interdependent.

"These will remain not only at the heart of this conference but also forms the core of ACCA's new qualification which is being launched today. ACCA is strongly committed to providing opportunities to professionals and equipping them to meet the future with confidence," he said.

ACCA Sri Lanka President Dilshan Rodrigo in the welcome address said the theme, `Creating the DNA of Tomorrow's Professional' can be looked at from three perspectives - the individual, the organisation and the Government from a Sri Lankan context.

"Individuals need to possess the right attitude to embark on a journey of continuous learning," "The challenge for companies is to move out of their safety zones in visioning for the future and develop a socially responsible business model." he said.