Abans to promote ‘made-in-Sri Lanka’

Retail giant Abans has embarked on an effort to uplift the image of the island nation by promoting the ‘Sri Lankan made’ label through its robust retail platform.

The aim of this effort is to help the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) industry thrive during the ongoing crisis.  

The company expects that such an initiative would boost the MSME industry, which accounts for nearly half of Sri Lanka’s GDP and provides 45 percent of the country’s employment.    A severe shortage of foreign exchange has left the government unable to pay for essential imports, including fuel and LP gas, leading to debilitating power cuts and lack of cooking gas. MSMEs are considered the worst affected, forced to bear the brunt of this soaring inflation, leaving many in severe debt and even having to permanently shut down operations.”  

Attuned to the hardships of local business owners, who have fallen on hard times, due to the prevailing situation, Abans has stepped up to nurture such businesses by offering the segment its wide network of retail platforms. 
“Through this initiative, products made by local MSMEs are given prominence within Abans online and offline platforms, by offering them prime display space and free marketing,” Abans said in a statement. 

Further, the company said it believes nurturing the MSME community would encourage and empower more of the youth and female population in Sri Lanka towards entrepreneurship.

“We believe the economic participation of these two groups will play a vital role in the development of local communities and more importantly towards the economic development of the country,” the company added.

Sri Lankan-made products under categories such as household and homeware, storage and home organisation products, kitchenware, cookware and appliances, consumer electronics, toys, gift items, bags and accessories, beauty and skincare, handloom and handicraft are examples of such items that will be on display at Abans Elite showrooms.

Meanwhile, the established retailer and diversified business conglomerate is inviting local manufacturers of various products ranging from household and decorative items to skincare and children’s toys to join hands with Abans to promote products ‘made in Sri Lanka by Sri Lankans’.