|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
'Nucleus' to boost income of women entrepreneurs in CP From Hiran Senewiratne in Kandy The Central Province Women's Chamber of Small Industries and Commerce (CPWCIC) is in the process of promoting the "Nucleus" business program in a bid to increase the income of women entrepreneurs by improving the quality of their products and services.
Under this program a working group of entrepreneurs of the same sector are supported and moderated by a nucleus Counsellor within the industry. They are also part of business Chambers and Associations, its President Rosita Samarajeewa said. She said that CPWCIC has identified gem and jewellery, horticulture, beauty culture and many more sectors for Nucleus programs. The program will develop and exchange ideas on how to improve the management, organisation and technology in the entrepreneur's company and influence the economic environment of the entrepreneurs as a group. The program is assisted by the German Technical Cooperation (GTC) Samarajeewa said that they have 140 women business entrepreneurs in Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts, working with the CPWCIC. According to Samarajeewa since the Nucleus program is a GTC funded program each entrepreneur could obtain funds to develop the entity. The CPWCIC executes need assessments, market promotions, organises training programs and provides business information for women entrepreneurs to develop it on behalf of them. The CPWCIC is working closely with the Matale and Nuwara Eliya district Chambers to attract more women entrepreneurs to the program, she said. To facilitate this program the CPWCIC also recommends entrepreneurs to get loans from Banks. The People's Bank and Commercial Banks are designated Banks for this purpose, she said. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has been assisting the CPWCIC to build the capacity and competence. The Chamber has also linked up with the Export Development Board to train and assist women entrepreneurs in the Central Province to venture into overseas markets, Samarajeewa said. The EDB has selected four members to participate in a trade fair to be held in Pakistan this year. The Chamber has launched a website for the benefit of their members and potential women entrepreneurs venturing into overseas markets via the Internet, she said. The membership of CPWCIC is open to women entrepreneurs in the Central Province. Existing and potential women entrepreneurs can obtain many services offered by the Chamber. The services that the Chamber offers their members and potential women entrepreneurs are technical training on different sectors entrepreneurship Marketing and Management, business counselling, market promotions support services such as business information and library facilities and facilitating linkages with other business development services. The CPWCIC, affiliated to the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka is the first regional women's Chamber in the country. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
