Small time craft -- thing of beauty... a joy forever

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

The art of making a trade is a basic life skill that the Small Enterprises Development Division is committed to propagate It is the basic unit of an Economy. We learn, to better ourselves mentally and spiritually but we also learn a specific trade to earn an income and thereby sustain our lives. We live in a specialized world. We specialize in one trade. To do this we have to acquire knowledge. However along the way we need some guidance. This is the main aim of Entrepreneurship 2013 held from 22- 24 at the BMICH.

“This exhibition is done for the second time. The Small Enterprises Development Division under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development. As an institute this is our 31st year. Our main mandate is Development of Entrepreneurship. In every district in Sri Lanka, in the District Secretariats, there are sub offices. Here we discover young Entrepreneurs who are trying to start their trade or who have already started their trade but are trying to develop it. Here we enable them to create market linkages with training,” said Small Enterprises Development Division Director Sudheera Jayarathne.

Promoting Small Entrepreneurship culture is something that will be focused on. “There will be a turnout of about 300 Entrepreneurs. They will represent many regions of the county from different spheres of trade. Here we see if they are ready or if they have developed their product; their packaging and price tags and brand name. This exhibition is an opportunity to market their products and services and find a market. Also another aspect we are focusing on is self development. We have set limits and rules as to what kind of people we are taking in. So through this exhibition, hopefully they will have a market.”

This year without focusing on solely on products the organizers are focusing on services. One popular field that has a good market in services is beauty culture. Inside BMICH, a huge salon with be created called Salon K Gate (knowledge gate)

“Here we are trying to inculcate the learning culture. Because for beauty culture we want to increase the customer base. So beauticians from various part of the country will be here. We are trying to minimize the gap between big Colombo salons and salons from places like Hambantota. That is basically the point in having Salon K Gate to provide them with a foundation.