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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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Japanese Envoy sees tragi/comedy facing Sri Lanka Sri Lanka still has an opportunity to strike a balance between development and Nature as the country is yet to reach the stage of a developed nation. It will be a tragedy or even a comedy if the country achieves developed status destroying its beautiful nature and cultural heritage. These were the comments made by Japanese Ambassador Akio Suda when he addressed the business community last week on the theme 'Sri Lanka and its future in Japan's eyes.' He said the country has much to offer to tourists beautiful waterfalls, cultural sites, forests or beaches. But the product has to be developed on a sustainable basis with the help of everybody and the benefits should pass onto the local people. This will lead to employment generation, development of human resources and reproduction cycles on an islandwide basis. "At present there are many shortcomings in the presentation of souvenirs and handicrafts, unclean streets and shops as well as local guys trying to cheat or mislead tourists. These can be changed if the tourism industry, local government and the local communities change their mindset and work together." Business is a tough competition or even a survival game for individual benefit. So the major concern of investors or businessmen is how to maximize profits of their own firms. But it would be beneficial for the whole country if they can do so by getting the villagers involved rather than isolating themselves from the public. It is also much better for the country if firms bring about benefits to people through their own business activities rather than making a donation from time to time," noted the Ambassador. He said that a consistent development and investment policy are of paramount importance for the future development of the country. A consistent development policy at least for fundamental infrastructure projects will help complete the project on schedule once approval is granted. He was of the view that prior to giving approval, sufficient time should be allocated for all groups concerned to carry out scientific checks of the draft plans." But once it is approved through due procedures it is beneficial for everybody to implement it efficiently and complete the project on schedule. There are exceptional instances but they should be exceptional. Otherwise there is something wrong in the whole system of the decision-making process including the validity of the decision. If the country really likes to see stable investment either domestic or foreign, the relevant regulations and administrative policies should be very consistent and not change easily because constant change results in investors looking at other destinations. Ambassador Suda did not forget to share his experience about the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and its influence on the country's economy. He said that one of the characteristics of modern Japanese history is the consistent influence of the business circle on its economy. At the time of Meiji -restoration in the 19th century the new government worked closely with business leaders to build the economically prosperous and military powerful Japan to contest against the Western powers. The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce were established in 1878 and they played a leading role in business advancement as well as public welfare, the Ambassador said. For example another initiative by head of JapanChamber of Commerce Shigeo Nagano which succeeded was the loan program for management reform of small-scale industries. The Japan Chamber of Commerce headed by representatives of big firms strongly believed that the Japanese economy could flourish only when big, medium and small-scale industries work together. In 1972 and 1973 small and medium-scale industries were suffering from stagnation. Then Nagano took a brave initiative and requested the government to introduce unprecedented special loans with no guarantee or warrant to small industries and succeeded in getting it budgeted. Citing this example Ambassador Suda said that he is not saying that the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce should make a similar move at a time when the country is in financial difficulty but the example was given to explain how business circles can influence important policies of the government. |
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