Biz Briefs

Budget 2016

The Ministry of Finance has called on public and private sector institutions and the public to submit proposals to be included in the proposed Budget for 2016.

Building the economy, fighting corruption, ensuring freedom, developing infrastructure and investment and developing education are the new government's five-point plan spelled out in its policy paper to create a new country in 60 months.

Accordingly, public sector institutions such as ministries, departments, public enterprises and semi- government institutions, trade chambers and professionals are invited to forward proposals aimed at increasing productivity and economic development in various fields providing dividends to the masses. The proposals should be sent to the Trade and Investment Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, Colombo 1.

GIZ partners CCC

The GIZ SME Development Program and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) will launch 'SME-ProLink: Unity Through Business', an initiative to link the Northern and Southern SMEs to strengthen business and social relationships and promote unity and harmony among communities. The program will be held in Matara on September 29 and 30.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fÜr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce firmly believe that this initiative will create opportunities for SMEs in the two provinces to build new market links and facilitate expansion of business to other parts of the country.

During the SME-ProLink program, 30 SMEs from the Northern Province will meet, interact and share experiences with 30 SMEs from the Southern Province, along with technical service providers such as the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), universities and corporates at one venue to exchange knowledge and create links.

Day-care centre at KEPZ

A day-care centre and pre-school was opened for children of workers employed at the factories in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (KEPZ).

This project was launched by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) with the Manufacturers' Association of the KEPZ.

The day-care centre at Phase II of the Export Processing Zone will provide considerable assistance to skilled female workers who find it difficult to work and bring up their children.

Many well-trained employees were forced to stop working due to this problem. BOI enterprises will also benefit as they face a problem of finding suitable candidates to fill vacancies at the Zone.