3 January 2017 12:00 am
Sri Lanka’s Industry and Commerce Ministry yesterday threw its full weight behind the latest national initiative on poverty and sustainable resources.
“President Maithripala Sirisena in his Vision for Sri Lanka 2030 has declared moving on UN’s 2030 Agenda. The president’s vision is designed giving due consideration to the goals in UN’s 2030 Agenda. The Industry and Commerce Ministry and all its officials will make their best efforts in 2017 to achieve these as well as support the government’s poverty alleviation programme. We are using public funds in our work and we have to show best outcomes to people since it is their funds. We have achieved many of our performance targets for 2016. This year will be no different,” said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.
Bathiudeen was addressing the special 2017 first working day event of the Industry and Commerce Ministry held at the ministry premises yesterday. The session saw more than 260 employees of the Industry and Commerce Ministry taking part in a one-hour long, traditional start-of-the-year religious function. The Industry and Commerce Ministry is responsible for promoting industrial development and in addition chemicals, mineral sands, graphite, cement and textile and apparels.
It is also given functions in development of state-managed domestic and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) trade (along with sugar and salt supply), consumer protection and market weights and measurements, international trade development, national entrepreneur development and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), rural consumer support through cooperative policies, local business development, preserving and developing the national traditions of crafts, handlooms, designs and artisans, etc. To implement the government’s vision of national industry and commerce development, this ministry also partners with international organisations such as UN’s Industrial Development organisation UNIDO, World Intellectual Property Organisation, etc.
The UN’s 2030 Agenda was adopted during the United Nations General Assembly 2015.