|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 10 November 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
U.S. expert outlines Lanka's prospects by Elmo Leonard Sri Lanka should host a grand slam tennis tournament to promote itself as a tourist destination, Nicholas Hahn from the U.S. said in Colombo. Asia holds no grand slam tennis event, which would be fertile ground for Sri Lanka to establish itself as a hub for a sports event of this type, Hahn, a former chief executive officer of Cotton Inc, USA said. Sri Lanka's recent success in hosting the Asian Athletics Championship, ICC Champions Trophy and other sports events proved that she had the infrastructure to do so, Hahn said. He is Chairman, Hahn International Ltd, Stanford USA. At the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce third annual business convention, Hahn delivered the keynote address on 'Competitiveness and the Global Economy.' This year's business convention was titled 'Competitiveness and Change - New Challenges for the Private Sector'. He said Lanka should capitalise on her plus points, like being competitive in textiles and apparel, industrial rubber tyres, gemstones and jewellery, agricultural commodities like tea, rubber and coconut and in some cases, the service industry. Sri Lanka is also one of the best places to live in, Hahn said, and is an ideal tourist attraction. Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, was ideally suited to bring tourists from around the world. However, in spite of what Sri Lankans thought, the island is unknown in the world, for the only reason that she contributes an insignificant amount to the world economy. However, smaller nations like Switzerland and Singapore play a significant role in the world economy. Switzerland was famous due to its miniature products and chocolates and as a tourist destination, where winter sports get pride of place. Sri Lanka had taken a step backwards in 1972, when it changed its name from Ceylon. It had to start anew, promoting a country which was little known in the world, Hahn said. Sri Lanka was not far behind in any respect, but the will to succeed was lacking. Shortly, Sri Lanka would introduce smart chip technology for credit cards, he said. He urged the Chamber to kick-start Sri Lanka into modernisation. U.S. Ambassador in Sri Lanka Ashley Wills said Sri Lanka would soon move up the economic ladder, backed by the peace process and aid from many nations including the United States and Norway. However, Lanka must face the facts which led to a 20-year war and stalled economic progress. Ambassador Wills suggested that Sri Lanka's private sector should emulate the private sector in the US and be self-reliant and not depend on the government or Parliament to pass legislation for the development of industry or commerce. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
