FCCISL CHEER facilitates DEF in Batticaloa
The District Enterprise Forum (DEF),which aims to empower local
persons in order to shape the future of the locality where they live in,
was launched recently in Batticaloa by the CHEER Project of the
Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)
chaired by District Secretary Batticaloa, S. Arumainayaham.
The HQI-Police, Heads of Government Departments, Representatives of
the Batticaloa District Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture,
Traders Association, Farmers Organisations, Oxfam GB Eastern Region,
ESCO, Sarvodaya and Cooperative Societies of Batticaloa District.
President, Batticaloa Chamber of Commerce V.Rangithamoorthy
highlighted the necessity and importance of the forum, as many issues
obstructing the development of the local economy could be solved through
dialogue.
District Secretary S. Arumainayaham said DEF was a timely initiative
since there was increasing recognition that private sector development
had an important role to play in economic development of the regions.
All reforms and concepts are on paper but not practised to the
expected level, hence the DEF mechanism would substantially fill the
gap.
He appealed to all participants, specially the Police, Heads of
Departments and the representatives of the INGOs, NGOs and organisations
to support this endeavour.
FCCISL is a national implementing partner of OXFAM, in the EU - ACAP
2009/2013 Project (European Union Assistance for Conflict Affected
People). It works in association with the District Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Mannar.
The FCCISL implementation component of the project is named FCCISL
CHEER (Chamber-network Engagement in Economic Rehabilitation) and is
funded by the European Union.
Program Coordinator Oxfam GB, S. Raguramamoorthy and Program Manager
of Oxfam GB Eastern M. Yogeswaran spoke of the study on Value Chain
Analysis conducted by OXFAM with the Agrarian Services Department for
the Paddy sector in Batticaloa District.
National Women Entrepreneurship Coordinator CHEER Project, FCCISL W.J.
Soosairatnam, emphasised that the DEF is a platform for dialogue between
the Government, private sector and NGOs in the district to address and
resolve business related regulatory and administrative issues which
hinder economic development in the region.
The executive committee of DEF was established with the District
Secretary as Chairman to bring credibility to the forum as the decisions
taken have the highest possible level of support of the district.
The role of the DEF is to empower the local business community by
creating a more conducive business environment by supporting policy
advocacy and representation.
The District Chamber, being the Secretary to the Forum, would
coordinate with entrepreneurs including beneficiaries from the EUACAP
project villages identify, compile and submit issues that hinder the
economic environment in the district.
Any issues that cannot be solved at the district level, will be
directed to FCCISL to be taken up at National forums.
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