CCC’s Scale Up 2.0 to help SMEs overcome growth barriers

Sri Lanka’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will gain direct access to buyers, financiers and policymakers through a national business forum launched by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), as businesses continue to grapple with funding constraints and difficulties in accessing new markets.

The CCC this week unveiled Scale Up 2.0, its National SME Forum for 2026, positioning the initiative as a platform to help the smaller businesses overcome some of the most persistent obstacles to growth, including limited access to finance, evolving business requirements and challenges in integrating into the local and global value chains.

Scheduled for August 11, in Colombo, the forum will bring together financial institutions, buyers, business support organisations and government policymakers, creating opportunities for the SMEs to secure financing, explore partnerships and identify new market opportunities.

The programme will focus on three areas considered critical to SME competitiveness: market access and value chain integration, standards and certification and strategies to help the growing enterprises improve investment readiness and attract financing.

The CCC said the event builds on the inaugural Scale Up Forum and aims to identify practical solutions to strengthen the long-term growth potential of Sri Lanka’s SME sector, which accounts for a significant share of businesses and employment in the country.

A dedicated business-to-business networking segment will also allow entrepreneurs to engage directly with the potential customers, suppliers, financiers and service providers. The organisers expect the platform to facilitate new commercial partnerships, procurement opportunities and access to advisory support that could help businesses expand and become more competitive.

The forum will be held under the theme ‘Connected, Competitive, Ready to Grow’, reflecting a broader push to improve the resilience and competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s SME ecosystem.