By Nuzla Rizkiya

The government is set to establish 25 District Industries Promotion Councils covering the entire island in support of local Micro, Small and Medium Industries (MSMEs).

The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved a proposal to establish the 25 promotional councils along with the appointment of a steering committee to determine their structures, roles and responsibilities.

The proposal was brought forward to the Cabinet by Industries Minister Ramesh Pathirana.

The district councils aim to create a favourable environment for local  SMEs facing various challenges.

The 25 councils will form an easily accessible system for local MSMEs in order to provide them with institutional support and services at a district level.

Through a multi-sectoral and integrated approach, the councils will be able to collaborate closely with the small-scale industries to identify their needs and challenges.

Additionally, they will serve as an interconnected platform for networking, promoting innovation, and fostering partnerships between MSMEs, larger industries and other relevant agencies.

The steering committee overseeing the establishment process is said to consist of representatives from the public sector, private sector and other related institutions.