The National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will launch an islandwide entrepreneurship development program to promote and enhance the skills of young entrepreneurs, NEDA Chairman Omar Kamil told guests at the ‘Entrepreneur Awards 2016 - Western Province’ ceremony at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute last week.
He said the program will help enhance the skills of entrepreneurs who have less access to training and skills development programs. “Our aim is to get entrepreneurs to the next level of their enterprise through the skills development program.”
Over 90 percent of the entrepreneurs are small and medium scale and make a major contribution to the economy.
“NEDA has commenced regional development programs to support entrepreneurs of various sectors who have graduated to the next level of their businesses. We want to make our entrepreneurs shine at global level with niche products that will be in demand internationally,” Kamil said.
The entrepreneur awards ceremony for the Western province was held for the first time and conducted by the National Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with NEDA.
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen said the Western province is the largest contributor to the GDP. “The province contributed US$ 31 billion to the GDP last year which was a 4.5 percent increase year-on-year.”
The industrial sector of the Western province recorded an eight percent growth last year.
Entrepreneurship awards were presented under micro, small, medium and large categories to those who excelled in the agriculture, fisheries and hotel sector. - LF