The new president of the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) Thushira Raddella plans to infuse new thinking to the Association for it to be more productive and to be a key pillar contributing towards nation building efforts.
“We also need to change some ageing laws and traditions of COYLE and make it a more open body where more people and associations could engage with us,” he told Sunday Observer Business after its 25th AGM at Colombo Hilton last week.
He said that one of the priorities in this regard would be to get women involved in the COYLE governing body.
“The membership consists of entrepreneurs contributing billions of rupees to Sri Lanka’s GDP annually. The majority of the members of the Young Lankan Entrepreneurs Chamber are exporters who earn vital foreign exchange for the country, and they also have international investments, businesses and partnerships that are vital to the revival and progress of the economy.
“We wish to share our expertise with others and create more entrepreneurs like us who in turn will help to create more business, exports and employment thus helping the community.
“I have identified that the best place to commence this from schools and universities. But we don’t want to do it the traditional manner but do it with a touch of techno,” Radella said.
He said that world businesses are changing and companies are embracing new technology such as artificial intelligence.“It is to this end that we hope to invest nearly Rs. 5 million and purchase around 200 new computers and give it free to schools and university students so that they could get involved in entrepreneurship.
“We will also guide them and in some instances even go to the extent of funding some of their novel projects.
“We will also have a program to identify some of the struggling small and micro companies which are looking for global market access.
“We will rope in some of the local entrepreneurs who are already overseas and with their assistance promote some of the local products in their countries.
“COYLE will also open regional offices in key growth markets for the same purpose,” Radella said.
He said that many think that COYLE is a closed Chamber and to break this mindset we will open up our Chamber to engage with businesses as well.
COYLE which was set up in 1999, has a membership of over 100 top Sri Lankan Young Entrepreneurs who are the Chairmen, and controlling shareholders of the top 100 companies of Sri Lanka.
