FCCISL supports SME development in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) is supporting business development in the Northern Province through several activities, supported by the International Labour Organisation's Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED) Project.

One of the core components of this initiative is transferring knowledge on entrepreneurial management, technical skills development and technology transfer to develop the MSMEs in the two districts.

Under this initiative, Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programs are being conducted by the FCCISL for the development of entrepreneurial skills and business management. The main limiting factor of this program is non-availability of sufficient Tamil trainers.

In response, during the past two months Vavuniya and Kilinochchi district chambers have trained 40 SIYB trainers from the two districts. The service of these trainers will be used to transfer technology on entrepreneurial skills and business management to SMEs in both districts.

FCCISL plans to train an additional 140 SMEs in Vavuniya and; Kilinochchi districts through this initiative. The programs that have been scheduled are Start Your Business (SYB) and Improve your Business(IYB) . The duration of each program is five days. Vavuniya and Kilinochchi Chambers are organising a series of programs of SYB and IYB for SMEs in the area.

The initial SYB and IYB program of the series were organised by the Vavuniya District Chamber, May 4-8 at the Women Development Centre, Kovil Kulam on May 5 - 7 and on May 11 and 12 at Vanni Inn Hotel, Vavuniya. Forty SMEs were trained in these program.

Core subject areas covered in the SYB program are components of a business plan, introduction and developing marketing plan, staffing, costing and financial planning. Marketing, buying, costing, business planning, stock control and record- keeping were among the core subject areas of the IYB program.

Members of the Vavuniya District Chamber participated in the inauguration of the training program.

Addressing the group of participants by. K Sashikumar, Chief Operating Officer, Vavuniya District Chamber explained the importance of SYB and IYB programs. He said SME capacity -building programs were needed for development and investment.

He extended the gratitude of the Vavuniya District Chamber to FCCISL and the ILO. These initiatives support to develop the number of Chamber Services and enhance the relationship with members.