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| Sunday, 31 July 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Call to recognise contributions of SLMBC members by Don Asoka Wijewardena Members who have developed business and services with Malaysia and thereby made a significant contribution to Sri Lanka's economy should be recognised in a tangible way, said Sri Lanka-Malaysian Business Council (SLMBC) President Keith Perera at a media conference on SLMBC Awards Ceremony at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce last week. The SLMBC President said that the membership of the SLMBC had grown to 83 in 2005 and they were drawn from over 20 different business or business-related sectors and added that in recognition of the contributions made by the 83 members an awards ceremony organised by the SLMBC would be held on September 2. Perera said that recent events had shown a great desire on the part of the two countries to develop the existing business, cultural, historical and political relationships as it could be a sign of a possible take-off in Sri Lanka-Malaysian business. SLMBC Project Chairman T.N. Gunawardena said that in 2004 Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) had grown 7.1 per cent (ranking next to China and Singapore) with an inflation rate as low as 1.4 per cent as the growth was driven by two large sectors - manufacturing which had expanded by 9.8 per cent and services by 6.7 per cent. Referring to the impressive Malaysian growth in every sector, Gunawardena said that the agriculture sector had grown modestly at 5 percent. "Sri Lanka must strive to take the cue from the growing Malaysian economy and the Council needs to be geared for this development." It was necessary to galvanise the membership into action by launching an annual awards scheme so that their achievements could be recognised, he said. The Project Chairman said that the relationship between Sri Lanka and Malaysia had been very cordial and as today Malaysia had signed 21 agreements, 12 projects awaiting agreements, seven projects awaiting construction, three under construction and 11 projects under commercial operation) and added that the total investments accounted for Rs. 4536.0 million (foreign equity Rs. 4106.0 million, local equity Rs. 430.0 million. When asked about the primary objective of the SLMBC, Gunawardena explained that the SLMBC membership with the twin objectives of recognising those who had contributed to the growth of Sri Lanka-Malaysia Business and those who had, through such business, contributed to Sri Lanka's economy. According to the SLMBC, after classification of the sectors, five sectors (manufacturers and exporters, importers, distributors and retailers, IT and other business related service providers, transport and infrastructure developers and travel and hospitality) have been selected for awards, each with a Gold Winner, Silver Winner and Bronze Winner. Entries for the awards will close on August 12 and an independent panel of judges will comprise senior officials from the Central Bank, the Customs, BOI, EDB, Tourist Board, Institute of Chartered Accountants, CIMA, Chamber of Construction Industry, Malaysian High Commission and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on September 2, along with the
Business Councils's Annual General Meeting. The High Commissioner for
Malaysia Nazirah Hussain will be the chief guest. |
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