FCCISL focuses on strengthening regional chambers

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Strengthening inter connection and relationship among regional chambers plays a significant role in achieving the primary goal of the chamber movement in Sri Lanka.

Anuruddha Warnakula, President Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Central Province (FCCISL) said at the Regional Chamber Leaders Summit 2012 at Ramada Hotel Colombo yesterday.

He said the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka (FCCISL) has taken many initiatives to strengthen regional chambers spread over the island, develop wider network and integrate chambers with each other. He said the summit has a set of objectives of strengthening the chamber movement, promoting linkages among chamber leadership infuse professional discipline to the chamber movement, peer learning, skill and knowledge sharing, identifying common issues affecting business and developing a strategy for lobbying for economy of scale.

It is a platform for demonstrating the strength of regional chambers and collectively discusses and prioritizes the policy and regulatory issues faced by the regional business community and lobby and advocate with the national level policy makers and authorities thereafter, Warnakula said.

Rathnasiri Wickramanayake, Senior Minister Good Governance and Infrastructure facilities, the chief guest at the event said the chambers must encourage 'raw material turn to product' to develop the economy of the regions creating employment opportunities and developing infrastructure.

The event was organized by the FCCISL in collaboration with the Asia Foundation and Australian International Agency for Development.(AUSAID)Twenty seven Regional Chambers and national bodies in the chamber movement participated at the event.

The summit declaration signed by Regional Chamber Leaders will be submitted to decision makers of the government shortly.