CCC partners EDEX

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) the longest standing strategic partner of EDEX, has endorsed the 2011 Expo for the sixth consecutive time.

The CCC is a premier body for commerce and industry in the Asia-Pacific region, and is highly influential in governing activities aiming at economic development in Sri Lanka.

The CCC Secretary General Harin Malwatte said that their chamber actively promotes competitiveness and growth in business and industry in Sri Lanka, and its HR objectives are similar to the EDEX vision of "empowering youth to be globally competitive."

"The EDEX exhibition has had a positive impact in directing the focus and re-defining the attitudes of youth, in making the correct choices in higher education and skills development, by affording the opportunity to meet and discuss their future in education and careers. The EDEX exhibition provides youth wider choices and options in education and technical training, to arm them with the right knowledge, qualifications and skills necessary to excel in their chosen careers," Malwatte said.

The CCC's HR and Education Steering Committee works closely with the private sector and the State university system in guiding the youth to make the correct selections in careers. The CCC has been actively involved in offering equitable choices for youth who are unable to enter the main-stream universities, by mapping out 24 careers on video for their benefit.

"Today, the local University system in Sri Lanka finds it difficult to provide the necessary higher education to a larger number of students. The slots available in the local universities are limited, even though there are a higher number of talented and intelligent students eligible for University entrance. The EDEX exhibition exposes them to world class education and training options which will lead to gainful employment, thereby creating youth who could gainfully contribute towards economic development of the country. By having two exhibitions in two locations, a larger group of youth has access to this facilities", Malwatte, said.

"The CCC and EDEX are planning on inviting the private sector organizations to be present throughout the exhibition in Colombo and Kandy and provide advice to youth who have failed to enter the universities on possible careers, as well as opportunities of employment if possible," Malwatte said.

"Our partnership will pave the way to bridge the 'expectation gap' among employers and jobseekers. Corporate establishments from multiple industries will be able to educate the jobseekers as to what they expect from new recruits. While being exposed to diverse employment opportunities even school leavers can freely interact with prospective employers to understand their expectations." said EDEX Chairman Kamal Abeysinghe.