By Sarah Hannan
The Ministry of Industries, along with the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), will officially launch the “Made In Sri Lanka” brand today (15) at the Galle Face Hotel at 7 p.m.
The announcement was made by Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa during a press briefing yesterday (14).
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Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa address the media at the Made In Sri Lanka prelaunch in Colombo, 14 December 2020, Photo Saman Abesiriwardana[/caption]
Addressing the briefing, Weerawansa said: “Several programmes have been lined up under the ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ brand campaign, which aims to assist the micro, small, and medium-scale entrepreneurs crafting local products. Identifying the longstanding issues of their inability to have a foothold in the local market and push their products to the global market, the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) has developed a suitable platform that will connect these MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) to businesses and consumers alike.”
A specialist committee will review registered MSMEs to evaluate whether the businesses qualify to carry the “Made In Sri Lanka” logo on their product. As explained by Weerawansa, the colour of the logo used will depend on the extent of local raw material used in the product.
“The NEDA already has a network of MSMEs that have been registered with divisional secretariat offices. The designated officer has already made a list of MSMEs that are producing locally made products. They are also in the process of filling out the necessary data for these MSMEs. Once the information is submitted to the NEDA, it would be evaluated by the specialist committee,” Weerawansa elaborated.
The Made in Sri Lanka brand campaign will see the launch of monthly trade fairs held at spaces frequented by the public, with the first trade fair tipped to be held at Arcade Independence Square on a monthly basis, starting from 2021.
Trade stalls are also to be implemented at malls in various cities, and at the airports, as well as international trade centres under a franchise model, which will be operated by the private sector.
The Made in Sri Lanka brand will also have its very own e-commerce Trade Portal, which will be made available by June 2021, featuring secure payment gateways and enabling local and international delivery options.
A digital database of MSMEs will also be maintained with the assistance of 16 enterprise development officers of NEDA, who will manage, co-ordinate, and monitor activities of 331 development officers who are appointed to the divisional secretariats.
The concept came about due to Covid-19, with it being discussed during the first lockdown by Sri Lanka Trade Development Council (SLTDC) Chairman Roshana Waduge and other council members, who suggested that local traders and entrepreneurs be thus empowered. The concept was presented to the President, who took it into consideration and issued a debt moratorium for local businesses in the form of relief loan packages.
Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa address the media at the Made In Sri Lanka prelaunch in Colombo, 14 December 2020, Photo Saman Abesiriwardana[/caption]
Addressing the briefing, Weerawansa said: “Several programmes have been lined up under the ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ brand campaign, which aims to assist the micro, small, and medium-scale entrepreneurs crafting local products. Identifying the longstanding issues of their inability to have a foothold in the local market and push their products to the global market, the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) has developed a suitable platform that will connect these MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) to businesses and consumers alike.”
A specialist committee will review registered MSMEs to evaluate whether the businesses qualify to carry the “Made In Sri Lanka” logo on their product. As explained by Weerawansa, the colour of the logo used will depend on the extent of local raw material used in the product.
“The NEDA already has a network of MSMEs that have been registered with divisional secretariat offices. The designated officer has already made a list of MSMEs that are producing locally made products. They are also in the process of filling out the necessary data for these MSMEs. Once the information is submitted to the NEDA, it would be evaluated by the specialist committee,” Weerawansa elaborated.
The Made in Sri Lanka brand campaign will see the launch of monthly trade fairs held at spaces frequented by the public, with the first trade fair tipped to be held at Arcade Independence Square on a monthly basis, starting from 2021.
Trade stalls are also to be implemented at malls in various cities, and at the airports, as well as international trade centres under a franchise model, which will be operated by the private sector.
The Made in Sri Lanka brand will also have its very own e-commerce Trade Portal, which will be made available by June 2021, featuring secure payment gateways and enabling local and international delivery options.
A digital database of MSMEs will also be maintained with the assistance of 16 enterprise development officers of NEDA, who will manage, co-ordinate, and monitor activities of 331 development officers who are appointed to the divisional secretariats.
The concept came about due to Covid-19, with it being discussed during the first lockdown by Sri Lanka Trade Development Council (SLTDC) Chairman Roshana Waduge and other council members, who suggested that local traders and entrepreneurs be thus empowered. The concept was presented to the President, who took it into consideration and issued a debt moratorium for local businesses in the form of relief loan packages.