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| Sunday, 13 July 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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NCCSL plans more services for members
The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), established in 1948 to promote the interests of local entrepreneurs, enjoys a membership of over 400 today. A unique service offered by the chamber to its membership is acting as an ombudsman to solve their problems, through a grievances desk. "This helps business people residing out of Colombo to solve their problems in double quick time, saving time and money," said Honorary Secretary A. Kandappah. NCCSL advanced the cause of small and medium enterprises and has promoted Lankan entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship from the inception. The services it offers its members has increased rapidly during the years while steps are being taken to add more services, he said. Services offered Registration of commercial documents, issue of certificates of origin, establishment of a measurement and survey unit for import and export cargo, publication of a trade journal, provision of vital information, statistics and data relating to trade, commerce and investment and making representations to the government on key micro and macro issues. Trade fairs The chamber is a pioneer in holding trade exhibitions. The objective is to bring local industrialists, manufacturers and business people together with their foreign counterparts. The INTRAD trade and industrial exhibitions, which commenced in 1996, continues to date with great success. Regional and bilateral cooperation NCCSL is the focal point in Sri Lanka for the BIMST-EC Business Forum, an association of five countries - Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand - for economic cooperation. It plays an important role in the promotion of inter-regional trade, investment and tourism. NCCSL is also the focal point for the IOR-ARC group of countries. Kandappah said that human resource training and development, agri-business, social obligations and environmental problems are some of the urgent and important issues that need government attention. Human resource training and development are needed to eliminate the mismatch between the supply and demand for employment with emphasis on making school leavers and graduates employable in the private sector. In view of the high potential that exists for expansion and development of agriculture, agri-business and dairy farming, it is felt that this sector needs greater attention and support than before to take advantage of the natural resources available in the country. "We are committed to creating an awareness among the membership about the need to recognise social obligations by building a social conscience within the framework of the activities performed by the private sector," he added. There is an urgent need to build awareness on protecting the environment while exploring the possibility of striking a balance between environmental issues and industrial progress which is of paramount importance for the economic advancement and the growth of the nation. History NCCSL was started by 21 members of the local business elite including Sir Wilfred de Soysa, Robert Senanayake, Sir Cyril de Zoysa, Falil A. Cafoor and Sellamuttu Sivanathan. Since its establishment in 1948, the chamber took the initiative and remained in the forefront in the agitation for Ceylonisation of trade, which was successfully achieved in 1952. After realising its main objective, the chamber moved on to provide the indigenous business community with much needed guidance, support and advice in the harnessing of local talent and resources which paved the way for the rapid economic and commercial development of the nation. |
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