ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY – SHARE THE BENEFITS OF GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN 1 MILLION HOMES

[National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka]

Dear Member,

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY – SHARE THE BENEFITS OF GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN 1
MILLION HOMES

‘DIVI NEGUMA’ NATIONAL PROGRAMME ON COTTAGE INDUSTRY
DISCUSSION ON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

A national programme to strengthen the home based economy through
development of cottage industries at household level is implemented by
the Government to ensure sustainable income and employment to rural
families. But this program without market linkage is useless.

This programme is directed and guided by the Ministry of Economic
Development at the national level and the cottage industry cluster
programme is implemented by five Ministries, related to industrial
development with the participation of respective implementing
agencies.

The ‘Divi Neguma’ industry cluster programme is implemented in five
strategic approaches.

1. Technology showcase and awareness programme
2. Conducting sensitizations programme for need analysis
3. Technology transfer and training
4. Provision of basic tools, equipment and raw material
Linking the market through sub-contracting programmes

At the meeting held at the Senior Ministers’ Office on 26 September
2011 Mr Sarath de Silva, President of the National Chamber of
Exporters of Sri Lanka suggested to arrange a discussion with the
members of the NCE to get their ideas on how they could contribute to
the ‘Divi Neguma’ industrial cluster programme by providing ideas on
suitable industries to be developed and arranging marketing links for
products developed by the beneficiaries under the project.

The industries identified at present are as follows:

Agri based raw materials for biscuits, confectionary, rubber
industries, floriculture (plants, anthuriam & orchids) tea small
holders, small holders of spices, cardamoms, peppers, cloves, nutmeg,
cinnamon, coconut small holdings, coir raw materials, Process food,
handmade paper based products & ornaments, handicrafts & giftware
items based on various raw material ie. rush and reed, terra cotta,
wood based products, coconut shell etc, fancy candles, coconut and
palmyrah based products, footwear and handloom. You may also include
any other products suggested by you having export market potential.

Date - Friday , 7th October 2011
Venue -Mahinda Silva Auditorium, Hector Kobbakaduwa
Agriculture Research & Training Institute (HARTI), 114, Wijerama
Mawatha, Colombo 7
Time - 2.30 pm

A H M Fowzie, Senior Minister, Minister of Industry & Commerce,
Minister of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development, the
Secretaries to the Ministers and relevant officials from the
institutions under the above Ministers will participate at the
discussion followed with refreshments.

Kindly confirm your participation before Wednesday, 5th October 2011
the latest by e-mail (n...@eureka.lk) or Fax (2507705)

Regards,

Rasa Weerasingham
Executive Director