Sri Lankan entrepreneurs clinch top Asian Award

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka has called its entrepreneurs to study and make use of the recently launched national SME policy.

“The National Enterprise Development Agency (NEDA) under my ministry has introduced the new SME Policy for the first time in our SME history. NEDA is the leading state institution in Sri Lanka that facilitates development of Lankan entrepreneurs and SMEs” said the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 10 August addressing the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2018 (APEA 2018) in Colombo. The fourth in this series of awards to be held in Colombo, APEA 2018 honoured nine Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in the eve of 10 August with APEA accolades. Over 1200 international business leaders and entrepreneurs have been awarded since 2007 in this series in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and China. APEA series-the regional Award Recognition Programme recognizing entrepreneurial excellence -is an initiative of Enterprise Asia, Asia’s leading NGO for entrepreneurship. Joining the event were Minister Tourism Development, Christian Religious Affairs and Land John Amaratunga, President of Enterprise Asia Dato’ William Ng, and Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka Dinesh Weerakkody. The nine winning Lankan entrepreneurs at the APEA 2018 were Mohamed Anverally (Chairman of Anverally & Sons), ENG. Abdul Cader Mohamed Zulfikar (Chairman of Milco (Pvt) Ltd), Bhathiya Udumalagala (Managing Director -Bhathiya Group of Companies), Kalana Gamani Kodituwakku Hewamallika (Chairman & Managing Director Interpharm (Pvt) Ltd), Kalana Gamani Kodituwakku Hewamallika (Chairman & Managing Director Interpharm (Pvt) Ltd), Thilak Weerasinghe (Chairman & Managing Director Lanka Sportreizen), Ananda Caldera (Executive Director-Global Rubber Industries Pvt Ltd), Jude Rodrigo (Founder-Bopitiya Auto Enterprises), and Dulith Herath (Founder & Chairman – Kapruka.com).

“The new policy focuses many innovative aspects relevant to SMEs. It identifies high potential SME clusters, enabling environments, modern appropriate technologies, entrepreneurial culture, skills development, access to finance, market facilitation, research & development and SME resource efficiencies. It is time our entrepreneurs, especially the winning entrepreneurs today, to study it carefully and make use of it. I am pleased to say that this policy is a result of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic vision statement to the Parliament. His vision was that Local entrepreneurs should now enter the global markets. For this the government shall support in enhancing their productivity levels and develop their competitiveness. In fact I am pleased to say that my Ministry has been actively working to develop not only SMEs but even to create new SMEs. Our continued efforts to develop SMEs have been recognized internationally. For example as a result of the efforts of my Ministry’s Department of Commerce, we received a large support initiative of Euro 8 million for trade development from which we are also allowed to strengthen our SMEs. I wish to thank the European Union and International Trade Centre for extending valuable support to develop our trade and SMEs in many ways.”

“Entrepreneurship is the engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality” said President of Enterprise Asia Dato’ William Ng and added: “Enterprise Asia organises more than 15 regional programs for its stakeholders annually, including but not limited to Entrepreneurs, Governments, Universities, Youth Groups and the community at large.”

Sri Lanka’s SME framework policy is now available for download at neda.gov.lk (under “Resources”, “Policies”).