FCCISL'S popular Key Persons' Forum (KPF) now in the regions

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka ( FCCISL) in collaboration with the Asia Foundation is organizing Key Persons' Forums in the regions, commencing from September. These forums have been held so far in Colombo only.

" The objective of the KPFs is to provide a platform for eminent persons in responsible positions, with expertise, knowledge and decision making powers to discuss and share experiences on policy perspectives on a face - to - face basis with the regional private sector on matters of interest to them," the chamber said.

The Asia Foundation under its Local Economic Governance Program, which is funded by the Australian International Agency for Development ( AusAID), will support the FCCISL to organize and conduct KPFs in five districts - Trincomalee, Jaffna, Galle, Kandy and Badulla. The areas covered will be tourism, power and energy, investment and industrial and agriculture development.

Key speeches and presentations with regard to relevant subject areas will be made by senior officials from Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Ministry of Power and Energy, Board of Investment, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services.

" FCCISL is positioning the ' Key Persons Forum', as a signature policy discussion platform organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Developers

( SMED) of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), conducts on a monthly basis.

The Chambers of Commerce and Industries in the respective districts will support and partner with the Apex body, FCCISL to organize the forums in each location," the chamber statement added.

With the government focused on implementing reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes with the intention of developing infrastructure facilities such as roads, railways, hospitals, schools, irrigation, transport, communication and energy services in the regions, the KPFs will provide a unique opportunity for key policy or decision-makers to discuss and share their views on development plans with business and industrial leaders in the relevant districts, in an interactive atmosphere, the chamber noted.