sme WORK ACCELERATED

No sooner the first ever national SME policy of the country has been unveiled, Sri Lanka is moving to implement it without delay.

“It is time we publicise the Policy more and start implementing it” stressed the Minister of industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen who was addressing a progress review meeting joined by his top officials and the Ministry Secretary KDN Ranjith Ashoka. At the launch of the first ever SME incubator of Sri Lanka in Makandura on 13 September by his Ministry, Minister Bathiudeen joining the Prime Minister, unveiled the first National SME Policy finalised by his Ministry.

“SME development is a key focus of me Ministry. Prime Minisrter’s recent policy statement to Parliament too focused on entrepreneurship development” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: ”We have recently launched the SME national Policy with the Prime Minister. The policy is wide ranging-it identifies high potential SME clusters, enabling environments, modern appropriate technologies, entrepreneurial culture and skills development, access to finance, market facilitation, research and development and SME resource efficiencies. It is time we publicise the Policy more and start implementing it.”

Minister Bathiudeen thereafter directed his top officials to work on a schedule for speedy implementation of the policy and assist the more than one million registered SMEs and another large number of unregistered SMEs across the country that are expected to reap benefits from it.

In his recent policy statement to the Parliament, Prime Minister Ranil wickremesinghe stressed of the importance of SMEs. “Local entrepreneurs must now enter the global markets. We will help them enhance their productivity levels and develop competitiveness” said PM Wickremesinghe.

The SME framework policy document is now available for download at neda.gov.lk (under “Resources”, “Policies”).