Private sector throng the show:
Mannar Divineguma hit 6,000 crowds
Crowds thronged the first Divineguma exhibition that went on show in
Mannar. The eighth Divineguma show in the series and the first ever
Divineguma to be held in the region, it also highlighted strong private
sector participation and pulled the highest Tamil speaking crowds in any
Divineguma show to be held in the Northern Province, specially
considering the overall low population in the region.
Ministers Douglas Devananda (Ministry of Traditional
Industries and Small Enterprises), Rishad Bathiudeen
(Minister of Industry and Commerce) Basil Rajapaksa
(Minister of Economic Development) and AHM Fowzie (Senior
Minister for Urban Affairs) visit a Divineguma
stall at Mannar Divineguma show on Saturday 21 January. |
Interestingly, it also showed unprecedented interest of many
exhibition goers- who usually go after white collar occupations- towards
small scale entrepreneurship and self- employment. "The second
Divineguma to be held in the Northern province exceeded our initial
expectations.
There were more than 6000 Tamil speaking populace visiting the show
during its two day duration and benefiting from it. A strong private
sector presence was very visible" said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of
Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.
Minister Bathiudeen announced this after the conclusion of the two
day Divineguma on January 22. The Divineguma series of exhibitions are
promoted under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Development and
implemented under five line ministries, including the Ministry of
Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Economic Development. The Export
Development Board (EDB) and National Entrepreneurs Development Authority
(NEDA) of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce contribute significantly
to the programme according to the vested subject areas.
The Mannar Divineguma featured no less than 14 government
institutions as exhibitors while also featuring 40 private sector firms.
The Mannar exhibition focused on the empowerment of rural household
economy. Among the sectors on show are agro sector (specially machinery,
seeding and replanting), leather and footwear manufacturing, food
processing, SME marketing and networking capacity enhancement, and new
technology infusion to the rural production units.
Initials estimates showed on the spot sales exceeding Rs 500,000.00,
with mounting future purchase orders (to be confirmed) for agro
machinery such as tractors and harvesters.
Onesh Trading, one of the first Private agriculture companies to be
incorporated in Sri Lanka, and was a leading participant at the show,
reported that almost all its vegetable and flower seed stocks were sold
out promptly. The Seminars on Local and International Business
opportunities, organised by National Enterprise Development Agency (NEDA)
under the Industry and Commerce Ministry, saw capacity crowds of SME
business persons attending the seminars with many inquiries following.
The show clearly projected unprecedented interest of Divineguma
exhibition goers- who usually go after white collar occupations- towards
small scale entrepreneurship and self- employment. NEDA reports more
than 4500 Expression of Interests (EOI) forms being submitted for new
business start-up inquiries in the SME sector, bulk of them being
focused on the agro sector and small enterprise start-ups/cottage
sector, such as palmyrah production, food processing, school writing
books production, handlooms and even brickmaking.
Times and Fergasam Group, the first BoI manufacturer to enter Mannar,
reported that strong interest with regard to joining its upcoming
apparel manufacturing facility in Mannar was seen by ascertaining the
applicant numbers registered during the exhibition and several new
applicants for its Colombo factories also registered.
"Private sector came in on very strong, in comparison to previous
Divineguma's" said V. Sivagnanasothy, Secretary, Ministry of Traditional
Industries and Small Enterprises. "The gamut of products and processes
almost woke up the entrepreneurial culture in the region" Sivagnanasothy
added. |