(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –“madeinsrilanka.org” is the first government-responsible online portal dedicated to the needs of micro, small and medium scale manufacturers and industrialists who contribute 52% to the country’s GDP, Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa said launching the first public sector web portal.
The launching of the E- Trade Portal, implemented by the National Enterprise Development Authority is a step towards providing the infrastructure needed to take the local entrepreneur to the international arena.
The portal provides a great opportunity to financially empower entrepreneurs in the Sri Lankan micro, small and medium scale industries and increase foreign exchange earnings. It is noteworthy that international freight forwarding companies are also joining hands with this.
Speaking at the launch of the madeinsrilanka.org web portal organized by the National Enterprise Development Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Industries at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo Saturday (11), Minister Weerawansa said the web portal operates as an online trading portal where the consumer or businessman has the opportunity to order only good quality local products without the aim of making unnecessary profits.
“Micro, small and medium enterprises contribute about 52% to the GDP of our country. Although these sectors contribute more than 52% to the GDP, the contribution of the government to the development of those sectors is relatively small. Although we have allocated billions of rupees to provide Samurdhi, there is little financial support to turn someone into a producer or an industrialist. Despite providing Samurdhi benefits for decades there is no reduction in the number of recipients,” the Minister said.
He said the youth who finish the GCE (O / L) and GCE (A / L) examinations should be targeted to contribute to the transformation of them into entrepreneurs in any field by investing an amount equal to or less than the amount invested in Samurdhi. “Only then will we be able to recover from some of the crises we face as a country, even if not today but in the future,” he added.
