Malik calls for efficiency in investment and export promotion agencies

4 January 2016 02:32 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Assures no political interference as in the past
Says need to work more harder, smarter and intelligently

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
The Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade kicked off 2016 with its firm talking chief urging relevant authorities to start moving along the lines of productivity and deliver efficiently so that the national development goals can be achieved in an expedited manner.

Pointing out that there will be no unnecessary political interference in the work of the Board of Investment (BOI) and Export Development Board (EDB) as in the past, Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama said: “I can assure you that going forward there will not be any political pressure for you to perform.

There will not be any pressure from me, the Sate Minister, the Prime Minister, the President or any other ministers.

“You are perfectly free to do what you have to do. All what we expect from you is to work hard and efficiently.”

The minister expressed these sentiments at the Strategic Directions 2016 forum held on January in his address to officials from the BOI, EDB, Department of Import and Export Control and the Mahapola Scholarships Fund. He asserted that employees need not fear about losing their jobs, unless they are not going to work or going to work inefficiently. “The government is expecting our ministry to deliver.

The improving of the economy and the living standards depends on how well we work. The entire responsibility has been given to us and therefore it is a big challenge,“ noted Samarawickrama.

As the government has spelled out plans on doubling export turnover and increasing FDIs by five folds to US $ 5 billion in the next three years, he stressed the need for the relevant agencies to treat those looking to invest as top priority and ensure their needs are met instantly. While stating that the postponing of any activities should be discouraged, the minister implied the EDB should do more to assist exporters so that the export turnover can be increased to reach the required levels.

Referring to the US interest rate hike, the Chinese economic slowdown and the influx of refugees in the EU, Samarawickrama pointed out that the challenges are even greater to deal with given the current situation of the global economy. “This shows that we have to work even harder than before, more intelligently and more smarter. It is not the number of hours that you put in for a day, it is what you do during those hours. We have to start thinking and think new.”

The upbeat minister expressed confidence in the newly appointed heads at the BOI and EDB in providing the leadership to bring about change in those agencies.

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Malik calls for efficiency in investment and export promotion agencies

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