[14 July 2018] — In cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Economica Vietnam organized an exchange visit for high-ranking officials from the Government of Sri Lanka to Vietnam, with focus on the theme SME development and business environment reforms. The exchange visit took place from 30 June to 8 July 2018. The exchange visit was organized as part of the Sri Lanka GIZ SME Sector Development Programme which aims at increasing the competitiveness, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka, as well as in other secondary growth centres.
The visit is a practical exposure for Sri Lankan policy makers and important SME development players in Sri Lanka. Participants of the visit are from the Ministry of Industries and Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, National Enterprise Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NEDA), Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka, local governments of Moneragala and Ampara, E&Y and GIZ. The delegation was headed by Mr. Mohamed Aboobacker Thajudeen - Additional Secretory, Ministry of Industries and Commerce.
In Vietnam, the delegation visited multiple ministries and institutions, including the Agency for Enterprise Development (of MPI), CIEM, the State Bank of Vietnam, VCCI, VINASME, NHQuang & Associates etc. Especially, the delegation was warmly welcome by the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh who whole-heartedly share the experience in promoting the business environment in the province and how the province has succeeded in being ranked at the top of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) ranking in recently years. The exchange visit is one of the activities which are implemented by Economica Vietnam to support multiple institutions in Sri Lanka to improve the business environment for SMEs, and in implementing the Sri Lanka National SME Policy Framework and the the Action Plan for the implementation of National SME Policy Framework.