'In Com' to promote SMEs in the provinces

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce will showcase Sri Lanka's industrial capacity through a series of exhibitions named 'In Com'. One of the important features of this series is its focus on the provinces and SMEs.

Many dedicated industrial zones and large scale industrial parks are planned with the objective of bringing in FDIs and providing employment opportunities, Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said.

The series of exhibitions will be organized by the Industrial Development Board and Ministry of Industry and Commerce and cover all provinces. It is expected to mobilize small, medium and rural industries which include agriculture, fisheries, industry, handloom, light engineering and handicrafts, he said.

The exhibitions will pave the way for the identification of industrial potential while improving existing skills as well as identification of new technologies and machinery and equipment to give a new dimension to their traditional practices.

It will also help in enhancing and increasing productivity and reducing the cost of production. Regional industries will receive competitive networking, research and development opportunities to enter the global market and to widen their reach.

The program will ensure competitive opportunities in global markets for the macro, small and medium industrialists who have been confined only to the local market. The exhibitions will facilitate the removal of barricades and achieve recognition for their products, locally and globally.

The first exhibition in this series will be held at Sammanthurai Technical College in the Eastern Province from August 26 to 30.

- SJ