Migrant workers can be diplomats!
by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE
The main concern of migrant workers is not only remitting money back
home to support their families, but also could play a role of commercial
diplomats for their country.
The book 'Internationalisation of Sri Lankan Entrepreneurship, a
study of Sri Lankan immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan' by Prof. H.D.
Karunaratne of the Department of Business Economics, Faculty of
Management and Finance, University of Colombo gives us a new dimension
to immigrant entrepreneurship, an emerging concept of the migrant labour
market.
The book deals with a vital aspect of entrepreneurship development in
Sri Lanka and the structural changes which took place including the
emergence of immigrant entrepreneurship following the liberalisation of
economic activities.
Emerging economies such as India and China have used their overseas
population to enhance economic prospects.Building linkages, trade
promotions, employment generation and strengthening bilateral ties are
vital aspects of immigrant entrepreneurship.
The writer is particular that migration should not be considered only
as a means of earning foreign currency to the country but also as an
opportunity to develop tourism, industries and export markets.
Sri Lanka's black tea market in Japan has grown by 69 percent which
is a catalyst for other products to venture into foreign markets.
Japan Immigration Bureau sources record that the total number of
registered Sri Lankans in Japan increased from 509 in 1985 to 12,000 in
2007 which is a 75 percent growth per annum.
Sri Lanka is one of the leading migrant suppliers to the world which
is around 10 percent of the country's population and around 15 percent
of the labour force.
The country sends substantial number of skilled workers to the Middle
East, Asia and Europe.
The book contains eight chapters with an introductory chapter,
background, objectives, methodology and limitations followed by a review
on immigrant entrepreneurship, presents structural features, growth
performance and economic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.
Based on extensive research the book makes a salient contribution to
bring the internationalisation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship with the
globalisation of economic activities.
The effort made by the author is crucial in terms of continued
existence and growth of Sri Lankan diaspora in Japan and the steps
needed to be taken by policy makers to make maximum use of the Sri
Lankan entrepreneurship in Japan who account for over 16 years of
business experience.
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