Sri Lanka calls for intra-SAARC value chains linking
It is important to link intra-SAARC industry value chains and develop
complementary production operations. And regional integration in trade
in goods, services including engineering services and investment would
be placed as the highest priority area in the South Asian region said
Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the inauguration of the fifth
convention and tenth apex body meeting of SAARC Diploma Engineering
Forum (SDEF) and 33rd annual sessions of Institution of Incorporated
Engineers, Sri Lanka (IIESL) on July 29 in Colombo. Minister Bathiudeen
himself is one of the members of IIESL.
“It is important to link intra-SAARC industry value chains and
develop complementary production operations. Developing the requisite
expertise which can support industries and the economy is very
essential. Engineering, science, IT, technical skills etc. need to be
developed in a larger proportion of the workforce.
A section of South Asian engineering diplomaholders who took
part in the SAARC Diploma Engineering Forum (SDEF). |
I wish to mention that our government has taken major initiatives
under the Mahinda Chintana - Ten Year Horizon Development Policy
Framework, to achieve sustainable economic growth, to enhance the living
standards of the people.
Last year, Sri Lanka recorded an impressive 8.1% economic growth. As
envisioned to achieve a growth rate of 9% and above from 2012 onwards,
we are taking steps to identify and enter into new strategic and
emerging industries and services, which have a much higher income
earning potentials”, Minister Bathiudeen said and added,: “In this
context, I am confident that a convention of this nature, will pave the
way to share and disseminate the expertise, knowledge and experience of
engineers of SAARC countries, in their respective fields, for the
economic betterment of the member countries.”
Speaking on the South Asian region, Minister Bathiudeen said; “The
South Asian region has faced with numerous challenges to improve the
quality of life of the people. During the last two decades, the region
has gone through economic slow-down, attributable to factors such as
natural disasters i.e. floods, droughts, earthquakes and tsunami,
spill-over effects of the global financial and economic crises and many
more such difficulties.
Further, there is still an unacceptable level of poverty in South
Asia. Against this background, regional integration in trade in goods,
services including engineering services and investment would be placed
as the highest priority area in our region. It is a commonly argued fact
that the region can face the challenges much more effectively as a
united group.
It is obvious that economic integration and interdependence at
regional level would create avenues for exploiting the synergies and
expand economic opportunities available towards strengthening the
economic development process.”
Speaking of his relations with the IIESL, he said: “The Institution
of Incorporated Engineers of Sri Lanka, which was established in 1977,
has now thousands of members who are actively engaged in various fields
of engineering and contribute immensely for the development and
advancement of the country. I am proud to be one of them.”
“All the Engineers in the SAARC region have key roles to play not
only for the benefit of their own country but also for the
intra-regional, mutual development. I am glad to note that highly
resourceful engineering Diplomates are presenting their comprehensive
technical papers pertaining to end SAARC country, today. This will be a
good opportunity for them to share their expertise knowledge and
experience with a view to further reaping benefits among the SAARC
member countries. It is very important that we need to work hard to
develop our region with a view to bringing much closer, economically,
socially, culturally and politically. This will pave the way for
strengthening our cooperation and march towards achieving mutual
benefits,” Minister Bathiudeen said. |