Northern Provincial Council launches business centres

Northern Province Governor G A Chandrasiri has initiated a project to improve the role of the Department of Industries in the local economic development activities of the Province.

The project is implemented by the Nucleus Foundation and financially supported by GIZ Development oriented Emergency and Transition Aid (DETA) project.

As a first step in this project the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, commissioned Nucleus Foundation to conduct a restructuring of the Department of Industries to identify the specific role the Department can play in the Province.

The DOI has now been restructured and this stakeholder workshop is being held on 13 March 2013 under the patronage of the Governor. At this event the new structure of the DOI will be presented to all stakeholders in the region.

As a part of this restructuring the Department of Industries under Northern Provincial Council supported by the Nucleus Foundation has established Business Support Centres in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

The objective is to provide support (training, linkages and counselling) to micro, small and medium enterprises in the development of their business and assist youth through business start-up support and vocational training.

Youth in these districts are being supported to link up with vocational training programme on offer so that they equip themselves with the skills required to compete in the job market.

Business planning training programme has been conducted for over 200 micro entrepreneurs to develop their businesses and make use of business development service on offer.

The Nucleus Foundation is training the staff of the DOI and equipping them with the skills to serve the entrepreneurs and the youth in the region.

Unemployed youth will be supported to find sustainable employment through skills developed and vocational training provided by recognized training providers.

Entrepreneurs are supported to improve and upgrade their businesses through technical training, business planning and counselling and linking with new markets.

Investors interested in the region will be assisted to find competitive opportunities and linked with stakeholders in the region. Future activities of the business centres include Developing investment profiles for key sectors in each DS Division.

Conducting Business Clinics for key sectors in each DS Division and continuing the support to entrepreneurs and youth to become economically empowered, a key element in the reintegration process. This is an important contribution to the youth of the region at a time when they are looking for new opportunities for gainful employment in the post conflict scenario.

The stakeholders networking event bring together entrepreneurs, youth who are undergoing vocational training and the service providers in one forum.

They will be able to develop mutually favourable networks and linkages while becoming key actors in the development of the region.

The event also introduces the new structure and strategies of the Department of Industries to stakeholders in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts and helps them identify ways in which the Department of industries can support other stakeholders engaged in related development activities in these districts.