AIS facilitates business to be more competitive

by Elmo Leonard

While Sri Lanka's GDP is an annual $23 billion, corporate giant Wall Mart's turnover exceeded $300 billion.

A few local companies have turnovers which exceed that of the local tourism industry, president, Association of International Standards (AIS) Sanjeev Jayasinghe said.

AIS comprises professionals involved in vital and diverse business activity and AIS reiterated its commitment to introduce and promote international standards to corporates, seeking its guidance. Strategies thus adopted, will facilitate businesses to be more competitive in the domestic and international markets, Jayasinghe said.

AIS promotes best practices in competitive strategy, leadership, marketing, productivity, quality, environment, safety, social accountability and IT, Jayasinghe said at its ninth AGM and the first, since its affiliated to The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC).

AIS, since inception nine years ago has been actively involved in introducing such designs to corporates which sought its assistance, its immediate vice president, Stefan Moraes said.

While Sri Lanka lagged far behind in corporate performance, a corporate cultural change was needed, to make local firms, competitive, vice president, Mahinda Saranapala said. A USAID program, TIPS - Technological Initiative for the Private Sector, concluded a few years ago, had helped companies which sought its assistance, to improve their operations, and compete with its products and services overseas.

It was also good for Sri Lankan export sectors to group together to sell overseas. An instance being, the local spice cluster, where intelligence on export markets, its wants and needs abroad, are disseminated through its membership. Such clusters needs to be transparent and disseminate market intelligence through all companies in the cluster. It would thus, be observed that what each firm knew by itself, would soon become obsolete.

Having witnessed the success of many Sri Lankan businesses actively subscribing to and adopting international standards, AIS has reviewed and endrafted its strategic direction, to promote best practices required for organisations to be competitive in all markets, Moraes said. Towards this initiative, the prime strategy was to link with CCC. The chamber will be actively involved in marketing and handling all administrative logistics of the association.

AIS objectives include:-

* The promotion, propagation and advancement of international standards on quality, environment, human resources management, social accountability, health and safety, information technology and security.

* To collaborate and liaise with other national, regional and international associations, institutions and organisations in the promotion, propagation and advancement of international standards and safety, information technology and security.

* To provide a forum for all interested persons on international standards to exchange knowledge and experience through meetings, discussions, seminars, workshops, study visits and through national and international conferences and conventions.

* To publish and distribute periodicals, leaflets, bulletins and other materials in connection with promotion, propagation and advancement of international standards subscribed by the association.