Peace Collection to connect rural Sri Lanka
Rs 300 million strategy to drive trade globally:
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Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen with US
Ambassador Patricia Butenis Private Enterprise Officer Laura
Gonzalez. Ministry private sector Advisory Committee Chairman
Rohantha Athukorala and UNIDO Head Nawaz Rajabdeen.
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In an innovative strategy conceptualized by the Industries and
Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, a new brand to connect micro
enterprises to the global market was discussed with US Ambassador
Patricia Butenis at the Ministry.
The project was designed to implement the budget proposal of creating
one million economic units to add to the strong SME economy that Sri
Lanka currently has, said Minister Bathiudeen.
The Minister explained the finer points where supply chain
development will be done on areas of handloom, pottery, vegetable and
fruits as well as home gardening with a specific emphasis to product
design in the handloom sector by designer specialists. Thereafter, these
products will be connected under a brand called 'Peace Collection'
whereby a global consumer is reached.
The Minister added that this initiative has been developed with the
advise of the Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
The Industries Ministry Advisory Committee Chairman Rohantha
Athukorala said that this initiative coming under the Peace Collection
will help bridge links between the people of the North and the East and
people living overseas similar to the countries that have had conflicts.
He said that the department store Macy's have already committed to
carry the brand and that signifies the importance of the initiative.
The Academy of Design that works closely with many micro enterprises
on developing merchandise will implement the first phase of the project
whereby based on global needs the products will be developed and then
with aid of a buyer the US market will be accessed to which the United
States Ambassador Patricia Butenis responded very positively and
commented that it is a unique project that connects rural Sri Lanka.
She said she will support the initiative and commended Minister
Bathiudeen on this pioneering venture between the private,public and the
rural people of the country.
UNIDO Head Nawaz Rajabdeen said that with some seed funding technical
expertise can be provided so that it will bring in an international
dimension to the project so that sustainability is assured.
The project is a novel private-public partnership activity that
connects rural Sri Lanka with the global consumer.
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