As winds of trade and commerce are sweeping across the Jaffna peninsula with a new economic boom on the horizon, efforts are underway to enlighten the business community of the opportunities and potential available for promotion of their commercial ventures.
The Nucleus Financial Forum 2011, a non-profit umbrella organization, working in close cooperation with the German Development Cooperation (GTZ) and the European Commission (EC) organized this business gathering under the theme, ‘Jaffna Day’ on Saturday (2), attended by over 500 local entrepreneurs and representatives of state and private sector banks.
The day’s itinerary at Weerasingham Hall, Jaffna inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander, Security Forces, Jaffna, Guest of Honour, Mr Dave Maurice, a senior member in the Nucleus Financial Forum 2011, Ms. R. Vijayaluxmi, and a few more distinguished invitees.
The Saturday’s Forum organized by Nucleus Foundation, a non-profit association working together with German Development Cooperation (GTZ) and the European Commission, was attended by over 500 local entrepreneurs and representatives from prominent government and private banks in Jaffna.
The session commenced with lighting of the traditional oil lamp by Commander Security Forces-Jaffna Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, the Guest of Honour of the event, Mr. Dave Maurice, a member of the Director Board, Ms. R. Vijayaluxmi, Secretary of the Local Government and a few distinguished guests.
Delivering introductory remarks and the welcome speech, Mr. Dave Maurice noted that the motive behind hosting a project of this nature was to promote the economic prospects of small scale entrepreneurs by directly connecting them with different financial and other service providers.
Under this supportive infrastructure, a loan scheme with lowest interest rates was to be introduced to small groups of entrepreneurs engaged in homogeneous industries by this Nucleus Foundation.
The Foundation, in addition, was expected to facilitate opportunities in markets and provide necessary technical training to the businessmen.
Addressing the gathering, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe praised the initiative of the Nucleus Foundation for bringing all small entrepreneurs, financial and other service providers under one umbrella, through which those engaged in industries can be educated and encouraged. ‘Such incentives will work towards promotion of micro economy at domestic levels’, Major General Hathurusinghe said.
The Foundation has already conducted a similar programme in Vavuniya District and planned to extend their services to Batticaloa, Mannar and Ampara districts too in the future.
 |
 |
.jpg) |
 |
