The United Nations Industries Development Organization (UNIDO) is to assist Small and Medium scale entrepreneurs in the North and East to set up viable micro and small industries through regional chambers of commerce.
UNIDO Country Director
Nawaz Rajabdeen |
UNIDO Country Director Nawaz Rajabdeen told regional chambers of commerce that the UNIDO focal point will play a positive role in identifying the viable industries to set up in the region and provide technical and machinery support with the assistance of donor countries under the government’s accelerated development program.
This assurance was given by Mr. Rajabdeen at a meeting held in Colombo with representatives of regional chambers of Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, trade associations of the northeast, the UNIDO project coordinator in the East, members of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Industry and Antonios Levissianos, senior industrial development officer of UNIDO. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Industrial Development Kumar Welgama.
The government will provide all necessary assistance to set up an industrial Zone for SME’s under the rural industrial development programme aimed at taking industries to villages. During the discussion, members of the Chambers suggested to set up cement-based industries, light metal industries, fibre glass boat repair industries for fisheries sector, and ice plants, etc.
Mr. Rajabdeen told the Sunday Times FT that UNIDO is exploring the possibilities of launching a series of development projects in the two provinces targeting the agriculture sector. It has launched a sustainable livelihood programme for farmers in the east to improve the living conditions of the farmer community. They are in the process of pumping Rs. 150 million worth of funds for various agriculture projects with the assistance of several foreign donor funding agencies, he said. |
E-mail