Govt. will distribute resources evenly - Export Development Minister
“The Government intends to channel economic dividends and other
resources away from areas that have been enjoying such benefits, to
other parts of the country where such inputs are needed most, said Prof.
G.L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade at a
meeting held at the Kandy Office of the Export Development Board to
inaugurate a Bureau of Exporters of the Central Province and to
distribute business promotion funds among export-oriented businessmen.
Over Rupees two million was distributed under the Netherlands’ Aid
Scheme among nine entrepreneurs for business promotion activities by the
Sri Lanka National Commerce Board.
Prof. Peiris said that the Government was keen to achieve balanced
economic development within a structured policy framework.
Sri Lanka with a per capita income of approximately US $ 1350 is
regarded as a middle-income country and in the Asian context it is a
very satisfactory achievement that all Sri Lankans could be proud of.
But we are also faced with a situation where the national income is not
evenly distributed throughout the country.
So the Government’s intention is to attend to this deficiency through
a mechanism that would ensure the channelling of national resources to
areas that hitherto have not enjoyed such benefits.
Hence, the inauguration of the Bureau of Exporters of the Central
Province could be viewed as a step in that direction.
Prof. Peiris highlighted four factors that had to be taken into
account with regard to decisions on export-related matters. Firstly,
such decisions should be based on the needs and priorities of the area
under consideration.
Thus, the Ministry had undertaken programmes to promote exotic fish
breeding in the Polonnaruwa District, cultivation of bananas in the
Embilipitiya area and the kitul industry in Kolonne. Though areas around
have been rich in resources they have not been tapped so far.
Secondly, funding plays a major role in any such decision. However,
feasible the project may be, it would not see the light of day without
the relevant funds. Thus the Ministry in collaboration with the National
Commerce Board has devised a scheme to provide necessary financial
resources to deserving entrepreneurs.
Prof. Peiris said that fourthly we must strive to get the maximum
advantage afforded to this country through the bi-lateral trade
agreements it had entered into with other countries.
For example under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement this country
could export 6000 items to India without having to pay any customs
tariffs. Similar opportunities are available under our agreement with
Pakistan. But unfortunately we don’t utilize any more than 40% of such
allowances.
Prof. Peiris reiterated that in the future resources won’t be
allocated only to the Western Province as in the past and said that in
the present Budget steps have been proposed to ameliorate this
situation. He also requested the exporters to make use of the
opportunities that are already available.
Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Deputy Minister for
Tourism Faizer Musthafa and Asoka Hettigoda, Vice Chairman, Sri Lanka
National Commerce Board also spoke. |