US to assist Sri Lankan PPAs

Minister Bathiudeen meets USAID delegation:

USAID Sri Lanka, Senior Private Sector Advisor Dr Daniel K Lee (left) explains the outline of planned US support to industries in Sri Lanka to Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen (extreme right) as USAID Sri Lanka Director of Economic Growth Gerald Andersen (middle) looks on.

Assistance from the United States for Public Private Alliances with indigenous private ventures in Sri Lanka is playing an expansive role. US assistance is also a significant part of on-going US-Sri Lanka trade cooperation, according to Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen said this during a special meeting between a USAID delegation that took place last week at the Ministry premises.

USAID/Sri Lanka, Director of Economic Growth, Gerald Andersen said that USAID is ready to enhance its trade cooperation with Sri Lanka. To this end, both Minister Bathiudeen and Andersen focused on USAID cooperation with the Industry and Commerce Ministry. USAID will provide expert consultants to develop a cinnamon branding strategy, provide energy management for the coconut industry and develop marketing and branding of Sri Lanka handicrafts in conjunction with the Academy of Design, Colombo.

USAID is already on a thrust to mobilize US $ 65 million in investments by Sri Lankan companies in horticulture, construction, computer programming certification, business support services, aquaculture, logistics, and garment manufacture. It also successfully leveraged funds from U.S. companies for civilian projects in the North and the East. USAID, Senior Private Sector Advisor Dr Daniel K Lee, USAID Senior Programme Management Specialist, Salma S. Peiris and Commerce Department, Acting Commerce Director Bandula Somasiri also took part in the discussions.