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| Sunday, 23 October 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Strengthening business sector NCCSL's priority The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) last week celebrated its golden jubilee underscoring its commitment to be the national voice for business and contribute to the social and economic development of the country. The chamber's priority this year continues to be the strengthening of the business sector, particularly of its members, and assisting them to optimise performance, NCCSL president, Nirmali Samaratunga said. While globally trading conditions continue to become more demanding, another of the chamber's priority is to provide the business sector the assistance to optimise performance, building links especially international bonds and also to enhance the quality of information and training of skills and development among its members, Samaratunga said. Begun as the Ceylon National Chamber of Commerce, in the YMBA building, Colombo 1, the chamber moved to its present building in D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha, in 1995. Senior deputy president, D Eassuwaran, commended the present and past presidents for their untiring efforts, often undertaken outside their office to bring the chamber to its present position. Samaratunga recounted the many achievements of the chamber, the most significant in her opinion being the "Ceylonisation" of trade. Other pioneering initiatives in the early years indclude spearheading the move towards export orientation of the country's economy including highlighting the need for export diversification, advocating the formation of key bodies including the Tariff Commission, and Bureau of Standards, formation of the Ceylon National Council on the ICC and proposing the establishment of a Trade Promotion Institution which led to the formation of the first state agency for export trade, Samaratunga said. NCCSL formed the Federation of Association of SMEs, developed over the years with chamber assistance, Samaratunga said. On international focus, linkages were established with BIMST-EC and IORARC. For the promotion of trade and investment, NCCSL launched the "Intrad" series of exhibitions, Samaratunge said. Among the past presidents honoured were Gulam Chatoor, L L Samarasinghe, Muni Kundanmal, Major Douglas Wijesinghe, Thilak de Zoysa, Chandra Embuldeniya and Asoka De Z. Gunasekera. The 10 longest standing member companies honoured were N. Vythalingam and Co. Ltd, The Finance Co Ltd, Millers Ltd, Ceylon International Ltd, Sri Krishna Corporation, Mascons Ltd, Chatham House Ltd, Eastern Merchants Ltd, Shums and Co. Ltd and Colombo Picture Palace. EL |
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