Sri Lankan market too small for entrepreneurs, industrialists to survive: AKD

5 September 2024 03:28 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 62 Bookmark

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Colombo, September 5 (Daily Mirror)- Claiming that the Sri Lankan market is too small for entrepreneurs and industrialists to survive, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that an NPP government will establish trade embassies in the African region to find emerging markets there.

Speaking to a group of business people in Kelaniya last night, he said only 3.8 million people out of the 22 million population come to the market for commercial purposes on a day, whereas some 400 million people come to the market in India.

“Our entrepreneurs and industrialists cannot survive in this small market. They must enter the international market. But, they are not supported by the government to do so. The economy is growing fast in the African region and a new market is emerging. An NPP government will open trade embassies in the African region to find new markets,” he said.

Dissanayake said construction companies in Sri Lanka have huge capacity to enter international markets but a government guarantee is required.

“The government must find opportunities outside Sri Lanka for our entrepreneurs and industrialists. The Japanese engineering group Taisei, JAICA and China Harbour Engineering Company get projects in Sri Lanka through their respective embassies,” he said.

He said an NPP government will help entrepreneurs and industrialists to find international markets through planned trade embassies.

Comments - 62

Krishna Thursday, 05 September 2024 03:43 PM

His thinking also too small to handle the troubled economy like ours...

52 82

Dilakshan Seneviratne Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:45 PM

He’s the only leader who understands the bigger picture for the economy. The world is developing at a rate and SL has to tap into that. We have not developed our economy, nor our most important resource, human capital, to break into this. Lots of people don’t get this, so please try to understand. That’s why the educated youth are leaving in droves, they will not, if SL can do it like Malaysia, SK, Vietnam etc. Anura is a very smart and intelligent leader who is trying to take us there, but we must try to understand objectively.

38 43

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 05 September 2024 11:54 PM

Not sure of his ability to revive the economy. He has not said anything new other than what is already happening. He just mentioned probable employment opportunities for NPP supporters. You should get an appointment too.

4 6

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 08:52 AM

But, he failed to do anything tangible as the minister of Agriculture. It is Hilarious.

4 11

Jaththiyanthara goonda Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:58 PM

What do you should be done? Go to the Moon or Jupiter?

6 20

Gayan Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:04 PM

Yes it’s a Peanut drama for the fools

7 25

Lion Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:36 PM

Give him power he is genuine and honest, knowledgeable and capable so give him the control for 5 years and test.

52 31

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 08:56 AM

Nothing to test as has failed as the Agriculture minister and heading for Gota part II. Disastrous!

2 9

Sivan Kumaraswamy Thursday, 05 September 2024 06:51 PM

Thats a silly comment and slandering AKD, ignoring the fact he has stated. Please educate your self!

28 22

Sam Silva Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:02 PM

Yes. He is getting scared.

15 22

wickrama Wijayasiri Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:41 PM

So, what have the 'thinking big' people have done to date? Opening bank accounts in Uganda? Give all to Adani, Tata, et.al.?

11 21

Yohan Thursday, 05 September 2024 03:58 PM

Your thinking is also same. With such issue we cannot entertain a massive government sector. This fellow never understand that.

6 35

Dee Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:03 PM

Only now you realize? So you promise the sun and moon- give high hopes to even the so called ‘educated’ people, after coming into power, do the same (or worse off) that’s happening now and then say, the economy is such, this is all that could be done! All these drama to grab power by vote !(which you couldn’t get forcefully in 3 prior attempts)

8 33

Madhawa Sooriyarachchi Friday, 06 September 2024 07:38 AM

Ranil had already created an initiate called "Look Africa" to support Sri Lankan companies in Africa. This guy just realized it is a good idea. Anyway, it's good he's a quick learner.

2 7

Harshana Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:08 PM

So he finally has realised that one need think outwardly. It has taken these guys a very long time to realise the basic reality. So will they also apologise for sabotaging the various attempts and efforts made by prior administrations to go down the path they now realise the company should go down.

3 28

Sri Lankan Citizens Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:09 PM

This comment seems off. No market is too small for entrepreneurs; markets should always be viewed in proportion. Many European countries have much smaller populations than Sri Lanka but are highly entrepreneurial and industrialized.

3 33

Can’t Compare Apples with Oranges Friday, 06 September 2024 10:32 AM

Remember, European salaries and spending power is High and not the same in SL. Salaries in SL are low for the average citizen. So the market forces are very different and people will settle for anything low priced instead of high quality, high price products. Just take food items and you will have a clearer picture. Most European’s will go for organic or fresh foods but in SL more processed and mass produced foods.

2 0

Mk Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:14 PM

This guy should win. And then all the voters get to learn a hard lesson. Like they did with Gota.

8 33

Lucky Perera Friday, 06 September 2024 07:58 AM

100% agreed.

1 8

Aela Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:17 PM

Well said Anura, way to go. Only an NPP govt can straighten things up from the mess we have been led into.

32 11

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:00 AM

NPP / JVP too responsible as ministers with Chandrika and canvassing for Mahinda in 2005 after Mahinda's swindling of Helping Hambanthota. They destroyed the public properties in 1971 and 1988-1990, too.

2 10

Sivendran Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:18 PM

AKD has well understood the core problem

25 12

Tissa Fernando Friday, 06 September 2024 02:37 AM

But solution is not in Africa. He does not understand Africa. Wonder this so called honest man is suddenly thinking about Africa.

1 8

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:02 AM

So late to understand and your clan will understand how weak they are. Then we will also suffer, altogether, worse than last 5 years.

1 9

Epiphany Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:19 PM

This guy has been under a rock or what?? Sri Lankan businesses are already trading internationally through trade shows, EDB, Chambers of Commerce, embassies and cooperative government associations with foreign countries. But how can he know that when all they know to do is organize strikes and cripple the normal funtioning of public services. Check their behavior and track record record since the 1980s to date.

5 38

Pandukabaya Mahanthila Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:23 PM

Hope People will not make a mistake. NPP can only run a Council...... Not a Country !!

9 34

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:05 AM

No not even a Council as they won the Thissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha once and never won thereafter. Miserable!

1 7

Gunapala Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:24 PM

Previously NPP were adamant that they will start a manufacturing based economy. AKD is now slowly learning that it's not easy to do things than talking

3 26

Yohan Kulathilake Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:24 PM

Without the West we are doomed. NPP will be a disaster.

6 28

Hubert Molligoda Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:27 PM

Still remember our Campus night mare days with the JVP. Never vote them in. Harthals/Burning of Buses used by the Poor/ Burning Tea Factories.... What People !! Sajith/Ranil..... No other.

4 29

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:11 AM

So, now the CTB and the railway department struggle to recover and the very poor people suffer, want to vote for the NPP / JVP. Hilarious!

1 6

Siril Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:31 PM

Nonsense ! we have enough properties to sell and enjoy our life. all we need is a English speaking man clad in a suit.

7 8

Saggdfg Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:31 PM

He boasts on many things but never worked at least as a waiter in a restaurant. Only professorial talks with a bad past.

4 25

Mandayan Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:43 PM

Come on Anura, you been to Canada and you were in the UK. Sri Lankans diaspora market is huge and that was targeted by Indians, Thailanders and Indonesians while you talk nonsense. Our politicians were busy in sending Lankans abroad to join the diaspora and expect their remittance while these countries are sending groceries to fill their kitchens and tummies. North and East sustained the cruel war because of diasporas financial support while south is struggling now.

3 17

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:14 AM

Has he opened up connections with people in those countries to improve our export market, after talking so much? Nothing.

1 5

Just Thursday, 05 September 2024 04:57 PM

When Mahinda opened embassies in African region same people made various accusations. We lost of decade because of those unfound accussations.

4 13

Senanayake Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:02 PM

True true. But the when seeing it in a proportionate way the No of MPs and ministries are an utter expense and a damn disgrace for the country to go bankrupt. These fellas should understand and can’t expect to have a Sahodaro club with the expense or the public. The public should determine to cut down the No. of MP and No of ministries too by half and serve the public. The No of govt servants too is a damn disgrace. Ratio 1 govt servant is to 11. There are also talks regarding increasing their salaries. After all it’s the people who will have to pay for it. So think wisely before listening to fairy tales. This is to the Media too who have to certainly be responsible for the bankruptcy of this nation. It’s question time and not drama for the …….. Over to you AKD, SP, RW Babe…..

0 3

Gamini Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:06 PM

and what little is available is disrupted by your trade union activities.

1 27

Damith Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:08 PM

SO NOW YOU REALISE THE FUTILE STRIKES THAT YOU AND YOUR THREE WHEEL DRIVER GROUPS HAVE BEEN LEADING THIS OCUNTRY FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND PROTESTING AGAINST WHAT EVER LITTLE FDI'S WE MANAGED TO GET. FINALLY REALITY SEEMS TO BE SINKING IN

1 18

Volker Metzger Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:20 PM

I am very excited about the easy-to-say-but-extremely-hard-to-set-up of trade embassies in African countries for Sri Lankan companies! Does AKD want to follow the Chinese model on a miniature scale? I think AKD should not announce too much, but first check what is really feasible! Many ideas for stimulating the domestic economy should be very well thought out, particularly in terms of their financial viability and feasibility! AKD should first address the problematic economic situation in the country, develop realistic solutions and suggest ways to improve investments! Is he sure that he has the entrepreneurs on his side, given his economic "experiments"!!!??? All his suggestions must be financially viable, otherwise his policies will very quickly reach a dead end and will not improve people's lives in any way!!!

0 11

Johan Thursday, 05 September 2024 05:41 PM

If we dont outsource thw projects like VFS visa system and other small projects, we can save a lot money. Then we can talk about getting projects from other country. You can easily find expats Sri Lanka for the projects implemented by Adani. But people are scareof government and their commissions

2 4

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 05 September 2024 06:07 PM

What is he talking about? Africa is not the place where you could make money easily, those countries are full of unimaginable corruption, the Arab countries invested and lost a lot. Only Chineese are surviving currently due to their massive asset base. Some of our companies are already doing some business in Africa and you guys said that those were all money looted by Rajapaksha. The only benefit is that your NPP could plant your cadres to take on some contracts to create chevos of those countries.

2 18

Samuel Thursday, 05 September 2024 06:13 PM

AKD is quite late in realizing the reality. The bus has long gone, and even our youth are aware of it. He should come out with a new discovery.

1 11

Tharan K Thursday, 05 September 2024 06:48 PM

That is a fact, hence India

0 4

Siripala Abeyagunasekera Thursday, 05 September 2024 06:51 PM

His brain is too small. Cannot think. This fellow wants to run the country???. Singapore has a small population with a small market yet it exports many products. Switzerland has a small population and small market yet it exports some of the best high tech products and watches. The problem in SL seems to be people like this AKD fellow and dead brain Mudalali type businesspeople.

7 17

Jagath Perera Thursday, 05 September 2024 06:54 PM

Dear Anura, let Ranil handles the business, you are not capable. You are good and you have been good only for finding faults, so continue your usual business sitting in the same place where you are now.

7 22

Voter Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:02 PM

@ Krishna, well said!

1 5

mk Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:05 PM

does he even have any education in economics? his party never won an election. he never had experience running a ministry or even a pradeshiya saba. and how can he run a country? Sri Lankans are going to learn a good lesson with this guy

4 20

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:25 AM

He was a minister of Agriculture and nothing tangible done. Otherwise, he would have been demanded AKD when they were protesting 2022.

0 5

Sam Silva Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:06 PM

We live in a very small country if he not aware. In the world map there is a small dot. He is comparing oranges to apples.

3 12

Ram P Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:08 PM

Good thinking is he can cause the businessmen to target the African market. It cannot be done overnight but not an impossibility if attempted with genuine interest

9 3

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 05 September 2024 08:39 PM

Already some business men like Wega Motors are doing business in Africa, we already export many products to Africa . Ambassador Kanan has done a great deal in securing some businesses so there is nothing new for AKD to do here. But government guarantee is far too dangerous in Africa. The point here is that AKD talks about what is already happening.

1 8

John P Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:15 PM

My personal political affiliations and preferences aside, as an entrepreneur businessman I find what he says very factual. Unless its a proportionate business contended with the local market, this market is not big enough for ambitious growth. However, If our embassies and staff will ever be skilled or capable enough to connect our businesses with other countries and overseas customers - without corruption - is entirely a different story! Give the devil his due, he is seeing and thinking much further than our quick fixing friend RW or SP.

8 10

Man Friday, 06 September 2024 09:30 AM

AKD visited in many countries for his propaganda. What are the business connections that he formed when visiting in those countries? Nothing.

0 6

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:26 PM

Hooray, let us go to Africa and enjoy wild African Safari with Red Brothers.

5 12

Volker Metzger Thursday, 05 September 2024 08:23 PM

I am very excited about the easy-to-say but extremely difficult task of setting up trade embassies in African countries for Sri Lankan companies! Does AKD want to follow the Chinese model in miniature? I think AKD should not announce too much, but first check what is really feasible! Many ideas for stimulating the domestic economy should be very well thought out, especially with regard to their financial viability and feasibility! AKD should first address the problematic economic situation in the country, develop realistic solutions and suggest ways of improving investments! Is he sure that he has the entrepreneurs on his side, given his economic "experiments"!!!??? All his proposals must be financially viable, otherwise his policies will very quickly reach a dead end and will not improve people's lives in any way!!!

0 6

Tissa Fernando Friday, 06 September 2024 12:00 AM

Dhammika Perera has a vision to create 1 million IT programmers consisting of teens and he has already implemented the foundation for that. What has AKD done except for wasting youths time in protests, destructiobs, and organising strikes and also inserting hatred mindset within them. So how could we trust this person at all based on what he and his party has done before.

0 2

Ding Ding Bell Friday, 06 September 2024 04:57 AM

There are many small countries in the World growing faster therefore it is not an excuse. In here All the Government keep discriminating Tamil people since Independence and make the country into Bankruptcy

0 0

Priyantha Amarasinghe Friday, 06 September 2024 05:10 AM

I am not too certain about what his says and makes no sense due to the current economic predicament of Sri Lanka. Looks like he is vying for business votes. When you say African region, can you be more specific as to which countries in Africa do you think Sri Lankan business community can engage. It's a huge continent and more than half of it is in economic turmoil and suffering. I am a Sri Lankan born Canadian and I have a travel business in Tanzania and believe me it is not easy. Besides, China is already making huge waves here and taking over the business of this continent. I suggest If you come to power strengthen small business people and mom and pop shops in Sri Lanka not the big fish. Make the small business person successful and you will forever get votes. That should be the motto of your new govt if you ever get voted. And lastly, what is this about embassies trying to help. All employees will be party appointments and will enjoy life and do nothing.

2 2

Carington Friday, 06 September 2024 05:19 AM

This man put his foot in his mouth, every time when he utters about economy, financial affairs, religion or security. According to AKD's dreamworld there doesn't exist counties like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malta, or Liechtenstein. He has to go a long way to swindle the voters successfully.

0 4

Bandara Gamaga Friday, 06 September 2024 06:09 AM

What is needed to build export industries: reliable

0 0

Curious Friday, 06 September 2024 08:50 AM

I will be happy if AKD can spell his idea on how to make our University Graduates (close buddies) employable.

0 2

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