USAID launches new business alliance program in North, East
The U.S. Agency for International Development announced a new
business alliance program with Sri Lanka’s private sector.
Partnering with five local businesses, the USAID Public-Private
Partnerships for Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka (PPP) Program is
expected to create around 5,000 full-time jobs in the North East.
These five alliances are all with indigenous Sri Lankan private
companies. USAIDs investment of about Rs.600 million will generate an
additional Rs.1,400 million investment from the private sector for a
total of about Rs 2 billion.
The sectors include aquaculture, apparel manufacturing, logistics,
and horticulture.
By establishing a ready-made garment plant in Omanthai, near Vavuniya
in the Northern Province, an alliance between USAID and a leading
garment manufacturing and export company will create 1,000 jobs for the
internally displaced people, including young widows.
An alliance between USAID and a Sri Lankan aquaculture company will
bring expanded production in the Eastern and Northern provinces with the
dual goal of increasing fish-based income and enhancing the aquaculture
supply chain of high value seafood products. By the end of the
three-year project, 1,300 smallholder farmers will increase their net
income by 300 percent.
A leading logistics company will invest in logistics activities to
help farming communities.
Through this alliance, farmers in Northern and Eastern provinces will
have an opportunity to increase both their production and income.
At least 1,500 farmers and fishermen will benefit from this alliance.
Cold storage units will be built in Jaffna, Ampara, and Batticaloa.
An alliance between USAID and a Sri Lankan horticulture company will
improve the productivity and profitability of fruit and vegetable
farming in Jaffna, Vavuniya, and Mannar by minimizing post harvest
losses and by enhancing farmers skills in modern farming.
Around 1,100 farmers will participate in the program.
In order to rebuild economic security in the Eastern Province, the
alliance with a local garment company will invest in a ready-made
garment factory in Samanthurai in Ampara.
The ready-made apparel manufacturing plant will consist of 15 to 20
machine lines and more than 1,000 employees.
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