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.