|
Skills development vital in globalised economy:
Need preparation for technological advancements:
Sustainable development - the way forward
New National Chamber of Commerce President
emphasises:
By Surekha GALAGODA
|
NCCSL President Asoka Hettigoda handing over a memento to NCCSL
past President Lal de Alwis. Governor Central Bank Ajith Nivard
Cabraal and External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris are also
seen.
|
Skills development, improving trade and investment in the Asian
region with a focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and promoting
sustainable development are the three key areas, the newly-elected
President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) Asoka
Hettigoda plans to focus on during his term of office.
Speaking at the 52nd Anual General Meeting of the NCCSL, Hettigoda
said that development of skills is important in a globalised economy as
it leads to increasing international standardisation of educational
challenges and systems while organisations increasingly emphasise
competence development and lifelong learning.
He said that technological advances have accelerated at an
unprecedented pace. Accordingly, the development of skills through
training should be the strategic response to technological change,
globalisation and other forces affecting labour markets. The new
generation of technologies, especially information and communications
technologies and certain manufacturing processes have a likely effect on
productivity and on the demand for workers with a higher-level of skills
and broader workplace competencies, who can command higher wages, he
said. The introduction of new technologies has reduced the demand for
unskilled labour and raised the value of advanced skills and
competencies in industrialised economies.
In the services sector, technological changes have created new
categories of high-skilled occupations in healthcare, information
processing, finance and business services. In the manufacturing sector
too, the emphasis is now less on physical strength and adherence to
routine and more on workers’ behaviour, flexibility and initiative.
Therefore, the NCCSL will embark on an aggressive skills development
program and hopes to be positioned as a centre of excellence for
training. “We applaud the Government’s recent decision to allow setting
up private universities, promoting the use of the English language and
improving IT literacy to set up a knowledge based economy. These
activities will have a direct impact on the performance of our companies
and building competitive advantages for the export sector, while
generating more foreign exchange on high-skilled foreign employment,” he
said.
|
NCCSL President Asoka Hettigoda addressing the gathering |
Hettigoda said that with the Government’s strategy to make Sri Lanka
a logistics hub, it will definitely assist trading activities while
giving Sri Lankan companies a competitive edge. The expansion of Colombo
and Hambantota seaports, expansion of Colombo international airport and
other domestic airports in Ratmalana, Palali and Trinco would offer
efficient sea and air cargo options to the business community.
Banking sector
“With the two largest populated nations located in our region, we
hope to focus more on trading within Asia. To support SME development
and investment, the NCCSL will lobby the banking sector to improve
long-term low cost lending to SME’s and traditional and non-traditional
exporters who add value to their products. SMEs play a key role in all
developed countries; for example; in the European Union, EU, micro,
small and medium-sized enterprises which are socially and economically
important, represent 99 percent of an estimated 19.3 million enterprises
and provide around 65 million jobs representing two-thirds of the all
employment sector. In Latin America, 80-90 percent of companies are
micro enterprises; in Japan 81 percent of all employment is in SMEs
while in OECD countries SMEs represent over 95 percent of enterprises
and generate over half of private sector employment. In Sri Lanka the
figures are no different. Hence, the development of SMEs is vital to the
Sri Lankan economy”, he said.
A significant section of SMEs in Sri Lanka operate in traditional
areas, generally with low levels of productivity, poor quality products
and serving small, localised markets. There is little or no
technological dynamism in this segment, and few ‘graduate’ into large
sized or modern technologies. “Hence, we, the NCCSL like to work with
the Government to support more research and development activities to
create new products, introduce new technologies that are sustainable and
to assist these companies to enter international markets and to build
internationally recognised Sri Lankan brands”, NCCSL President said.
Private public partnership
Hettigoda said “with the Government’s initiative in private-public
partnerships, we would also like to request that local companies be
given the first choice before projects are offered to international
bidders as we are keen to participate in our country’s economic growth.”
The NCCSL will continue to hold international trade and investment
events such as Ayurveda EXPO 2011 to be held under President Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s visit Sri Lanka 2011 program, INTRAD, and Arogya in the
coming years.
Hettigoda said, “sustainable development is the future for our
wonderful nation which is blessed with the abundance of nature and
biodiversity.
Development which balances the environment, economy and our culture,
will bring more benefits and I believe we will become a competitive
nation.
The need to manage our water resources is paramount with an
agricultural economy and erratic weather patterns which we all witnessed
during the last few weeks. Hence, the promotion of sustainable water
management methods like rain water harvesting, drip irrigation, waste
water treatment and controlling of water polluting activities will
preserve enough drinking water for future generations while promoting
development. In addition, green building strategies, renewable energy,
environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient building
materials, organic farming and recycling are some of the
well-established practices of sustainable development.
Carbon tax
“Certain countries in the developed world are discussing the
introduction of a carbon tax on merchandise with high carbon levels and
products coming from countries that refuse to contribute to reducing
greenhouse gases. Further, the use of certain chemical pesticides and
fertilisers and the health effects that these chemicals have on them,
poor labour conditions, are factors considered by certain countries in
controlling imports”, he said.
Hettigoda said considering these factors, it’s easy to see why
sustainable development is not only good for the earth, but also
required to survive in the new economic order. “As we target more export
revenue, sustainable development practices will give us the competitive
advantage we are looking for.
The business community, will fully support the Government’s
initiatives to make our nation a prosperous country and not settle for
anything less than President Rajapaksa’s vision of making Sri Lanka the
Wonder of Asia and with the emphasis that the National Chamber means
always ‘national-minded’.
Hettigoda did not forget to thank the people who had supported him
and taught him good values. |
