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| Sunday, 14 December 2003 |
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Dutch help to set up six regional chambers The Ambassador to the Netherlands in Sri Lanka, Susan Blankhart and President, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Nihal Abeysekera signed a contribution agreement recently for programme support to the FCCISL. With earlier support of EURO 260,000 from the Netherlands government, the FCCISL successfully established a Regional Development Unit within its organisation and contributed towards the establishment of the regional chambers in Sabaragamuwa and Kalutara. With the renewed contribution amounting to EURO 500,000, the FCCISL will be able to establish regional chambers of commerce and industry in districts where the private sector has expressed a clear need and interest for them. Furthermore, it will support regional chambers in training, lobbying and policy advocacy for micro, medium and small entrepreneurs in the regions. Funding will also be allocated for further strengthening of the Policy Support Unit of the FCCISL to provide lobby and policy support to regional chambers. The Netherlands government strongly supports the vision of the Sri Lankan Government that economic development and progress of the peace process are two sides of the same coin. It leaves no doubt that a flourishing economy, where benefits and growth are shared equitably and social and environmental standards are adhered to, is a precondition for durable peace and stability. The new programme will stimulate regional economic development, targeting micro, small and medium-scale entrepreneurs in the districts. This sector is considered particularly important for poverty alleviation and pro-poor growth in the regions. The programme acknowledges that strengthening of local entrepreneurship will contribute to the creation of local public-private partnerships, important and necessary for the efficient and effective use of donor funding pledged at the Tokyo conference. Reconstruction of war-affected areas and the further development of Sri Lanka requires a powerful private sector, from the national to the regional level. Involvement of the private sector and civil society is crucial to sustainable and peaceful development of Sri Lanka. This is a key issue in the partnership between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. |
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