FCCISL inaugurates Jaffna District Enterprise Forum

The first ever “District Enterprise Forum” (DEF) in Jaffna was inaugurated by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) at the Auditorium of the District Secretariat Jaffna on June 24. Government Agent of Jaffna K Ganesh chaired the meeting where heads of all departments and representatives of the District Chambers of Commerce, the Cooperative sector the private sector, INGOs and banks were present.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam (CCIY) President Pooranachandran welcomed all the members. The Forum Chairman and Jaffna GA K.Ganesh spoke on the importance of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in promoting the private sector of the district, which is considered to be the engine of the economic growth.

Northern and Eastern Regional Chambers Advisor W.J. Soosairatnam FCCISL in his presentation, explained the concept, objectives, and the mechanism of the DEF program and said, The “District Enterprise Forum is a public-private dialogue between the Government, the private sector and NGOs in the district to address policy, regulatory, administrative and business related issues which hinder private sector development”.

He further facilitated in the formation of the Executive Committee which is the key factor for the successful operation of the Forum.

The Executive Committee of the District Enterprise Forum, comprising 25 members and the Government Agent as the Chairman, was unanimously elected to ease the process in solving the following common categories of the issues faced by the business community such as, infrastructure related issues, markets and market related issues, human resources related issues, financial and investment related issues and administrative and legal issues to enhance the business activities in the district.

To enhance the empowerment of the business community in the districts and to support their policy advocacy, lobbying, and representation action to create a conducive business environment, FCCISL has already inaugurated District Enterprise Forums in 17 districts in Sri Lanka delivering tangible improvements in the business environment.

The “Chamber Presidents Forum” which is another instrument of the collective voice of business community, to improve the regional economy of the country is another milestone of the FCCISL of this nature. Business related policies or regulatory issues that cannot be solved at the district and provincial levels will be taken to the policymakers of the national level by the FCCISL.