NEDA plans enterprise University

Our Parliamentary Correspondents

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen told Parliament yesterday that the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) has planned to establish a (SME) small and Medium Enterprise University with the support of Japanese International Cooperation Agency for the skills development of SMEs in Sri Lanka.

Participating in the debate on several orders under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, the Minister said, economic growth in Sri Lanka will accelerate with th support extended by the Government to encourage the SME sector. "We will continue to help the SME sector which is the back bone of the country," he said.

"That is why several policy measures have been introduced to help the local industries, especially the SMEs." There is a greater potential and need for the development of SMEs in Sri Lnaka to generate maximum Socio Economic benefits to its people.

Furthermore, the development of SME's can also be defined as a significant tool to balance the country's regional development. The importance of SMEs remains valid, as it plays a complementary role to large industries.