‘Comprehensive Sri Lanka entry next’-UNIDO

UN’s apex industry body is planning for much larger intervention in Sri Lankan industry sector-and has reiterated its support for the industry development vision of Sri Lanka’s national unity government.

“In the next country policy for Sri Lanka, UNIDO is keen to build a more comprehensive industry support level” said UNIDO Representative and Regional Director for South Asia Ayumi Fujino on 11 October in Colombo. The outgoing South Asia Regional Director Fujino was meeting Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen at his Ministry in Colombo 3.

“UNIDO will be celebrating its 50^th anniversary this November. We have built up a strong global portfolio over the years. We have supported Sri Lankan industries in a variety of ways. UNIDO’s preceding three year collaboration with Sri Lanka has just ended and it is time for us to formulate a new country policy” ” said South Asia Regional Director Fujino, and added: “Our Director General Li Yong is keen to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka. Therefore in the next country policy for Sri Lanka, UNIDO is keen to build a more comprehensive industry support level-to both the country and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and also to enhance Sri Lankan initiatives of UNIDO so far.”

Sri Lankan initiatives of UNIDO span waste reduction, industrial information structures including industry registration and surveys, low cost green initiatives such as the bamboo project, novel concepts such as the Triple Bottom Line and even support for the five year Industrial Policy Plan.

Director General of UNIDO in Vienna, Li Yong, visited Sri Lanka in early February and announced six new industrial projects on February 05 during his meeting with Minister Bathiudeen. The new projects announced were on climate change, chemical and waste management, leather processing and industrial parks.

“We thank UNIDO for its support to Sri Lanka’s industry sector. Specially, your assistance to our five year Industrial Policy Plan is commendable” said Minister Bathiudeen and added: “During your tenure, we have seen new UNIDO initiatives for Sri Lanka such as the bamboo project, support for Industrial Policy Plan and the three year plan. We welcome UNIDO’s enhanced support to Sri Lanka in future and we believe that such enhanced intervention to be timely especially given the industrial reforms planned by our Unity government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.”

The outgoing South Asia Regional Director Fujino is considered as a pioneer of UNIDO’s initiative for post conflict assistance and was closely involved in UNIDO programmes in streamlining the regulatory framework for private sector development, entrepreneurship promotion through local production networks and market facilitation by linking rural/local products with urban and export markets.