Vietnamese team to study CCISL's DEFs

A Vietnam delegation comprising senior members from leading public private sector establishments including senior officials of ILO Vietnam visited the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) on September 20. The objective of the visit was to share knowledge and experience of the success of public-private dialogue developed through District Enterprise Forums ( DEFs) for them to promote public-private partnership in their program of youth employment through local economic development in Vietnam.

FCCISI Projects Assistant Secretary General Bodi Wanniarachchi (second from left) presenting a DEF manual to Local Economic Development Chief Technical Advisor Mimi Groenbec (second from right). Projects and Services Deputy Head Krishantha Wisenthige, (Extreme left), Labour Invalides and Social Affairs Department Vice Director Vo Duy Thong (middle), and Industries and Trade Department Head Nguyen Van Thong (extreme right) look on

The FCCISL has established District Enterprise Forums (DEF) in 18 districts in the country with the support and coordination of District Chambers of Commerce and Industry. DEF is a committee chaired by District Secretary and other key public sector officials, representatives from the private sector, non government organizations and other organizations that support small and medium enterprises.

Key activities of DEF are to provide a platform for regular consultations and discuss private sector development issues between the Government and the private sector at the district level and identify specific issues in their particular sectors and areas, coordinate activities for development and promote and facilitate collaboration between relevant stakeholders.

Lobbying and policy advocacy is comparatively a new area in the Sri Lankan business context. Even though, the policy advocacy tools and techniques have been used by the business community to resolve some of the regulatory issues pertaining to hindrance of their success, the effort has not been established strongly to influence the policy and decision makers all the time to rectify key issues in Sri Lanka unlike other major nationals. As a remedy to this important issue, FCCISL took the initiative through DEF to strengthen and protect rural entrepreneur, thereby to establish a voice in the country as a whole, to solve their major business related concerns.

FCCISL along with district chambers regularly conduct lobbying and advocacy awareness programs for small and medium enterprises in regions through DEF allowing them to identify, analyse and present key issues to the respective policy makers in their areas as a collective voice which enhances the effectiveness of such efforts. The prime objective of the activity is to further create a business friendly environment in regions, through implementing sound rules and regulations which eases endeavours of local entrepreneurs.

As the micro, small and medium enterprises in Sri Lanka have been identified as the engine of economic growth of the country for its considerable contribution to the GDP in the areas of employment creation and poverty alleviation, FCCISL and district chambers of commerce and industry help strengthen the ties between parties concerned to policy issues and thereby obtain the support of Government authorities allowing conducive business function in regions. As a result, the entrepreneurs are motivated to invest and expand their business that will undoubtedly improve country's economy.