EDB to boost SME growth
"Of over 4000 Sri Lankan export firms, 75 percent are SMEs.
Therefore we have a huge responsibility to groom them to become large
scale export firms if we are to achieve US $20 billion by 2020 said
Export Development Board (EDB) Director General Sujatha Weerakoon.
She was addressing the EDB facilitated "Internationalisation of SMEs
session by PUM Netherlands senior experts" session held a the EDB last
week.
Large firms export on their own but we have to have a strong second
tier.
EDB is focused on promoting SMEs by allocating a whole division
within EDB for itsdevelopment.
PUM senior experts are offering their services free and we can use
their services to strengthen SME capacity building and to reach the next
level in exports." I am thankful for PUM Netherlands and more
importantly to the Government of Netherlands for the support given to
us.
In fact, the Government of Netherlands has increased its expert
supply quota to Sri Lanka." Weerakoon said
"The Netherland government backed PUM Netherlands senior experts
program operates in 70 countries in all sectors" said Dutch Tech
Transfer
Expert Cees Van Dijl, addressing the event.
"We connect entrepreneurs in developing countries and emerging
markets with senior experts from the
Netherlands each of whom has gained at least 30 years of experience
in a business environment. Our Sri Lanka support and consultancy are
absolutely free! Our 3,200 volunteers advise 2,000 entrepreneurs
annually in almost every field imaginable: from logistics to welding
techniques, and from the hotel and catering trade to carpentry.
PUM is already supporting more than 350 SMEs in Sri Lanka" Van Dijl
added.
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