All recent commendable efforts undertaken by Sri Lanka’s Tourism authorities to promote and attract more tourism traffic to Sri Lanka are continuously challenged by the ever developing Covid-19 scenario. Covid-19 had emerged to be the prime obstacle to promote traffic of tourists anywhere in the world. Experts envisage that for the next two to three years no significant changes can be expected, contributed by an increasing lack of acceptance for the vaccines, after cases surfaced showing heavy side effects in patients’ health only days after being vaccinated. However, a few countries such as the UAE, Sweden, South Africa and some South American countries have.
“SMEs face many technical and logistical barriers due to its low financial strength which has kept them away from seeking greater visibility through online trade promotional sites,” the NEDA chief said. Around 60 industrialists took part in the last NEDA trade exhibition and sought recognition for their products and services.“We want more SMEs to take part in such trade affairs and gain local and global recognition,” Gunasinghe said. The awards scheme was designed for Micro, Small, Medium and Large sector entrepreneurs in the fields of Industry and Manufacturing Sector, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sector and Hospitality and Tourism and other services sectors and further awards were presented for best practices under 11 thematic areas; Best Environmental Friendly Enterprise, Best Exporter, Best Productive Enterprise, Best Innovative Enterprise, Best Value Added Enterprise, Best Energy Efficient Enterprise, Award for the Entrepreneur – Who has Provided Most Number of Jobs for Females, Award for the Best Woman Entrepreneur, Award for the Best Entrepreneur – Differently abled, Award for the Best Entrepreneur – Recovered from Covid related Business Issues and Award for the Best Entrepreneur – Survived during the Covid-19 pandemic.The National Chamber teamed up again with NEDA to conduct the awards for the fifth year in succession. The award scheme is designed to distinguish, reward and motivate Sri Lanka’s very own entrepreneurs to reach the mantle of achievement and encourage the business community in the Western Province to improve their standards of business practices and achieve a high level of entrepreneurship.
The National Chamber of Commerce and NEDA have been assisting the micro, small, medium and large sectors in the regions for a long time, and this gives special focus towards the upliftment of these sectors in the provinces to develop their businesses and conduct training programs for them, including for differently-abled entrepreneurs.