Let benefits flow to small businesses

SMALL businesses play a big role in a country's development. This is particularly true of Sri Lanka, as any senior executive in one of our State banks would testify.

In terms of GNP, the contribution of small and medium scale businesses is substantial and steadfast and this is a predominant reason why the Small and Medium Enterprises should be helped by the State and other relevant agencies to prosper continuously.

Given this general backdrop we are particularly happy that the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, along with other vital organisations, have decided to make "big benefits for small business", the theme for this year's National Quality Week from October 9 to 15th.

Considering the SMEs' substantial contribution to national development, the State and the public are obliged to enable this sector to thrive and continue the good work it has been doing silently but efficiently.

As far as the so-called small man is concerned, it is the SME sector that has been his main economic mainstay.

In terms of population, this amounts to well over 70 percent. Therefore, small enterprises could be considered the lifeblood of the country, although it is the city-based, so called mega businesses which usually meet the public eye.

This imbalance, we hope, would be rectified. It is not only the big businesses and enterprises which need to be appreciated, welcomed and sustained.

The SME sector, no less than "big business", needs to win our succour and our support. Let us do it not only during National Quality Week, but every day of our lives.

Incidentally, succouring and sustaining the SME sector is a key plank of the Mahinda Chinthana. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a President of the ordinary people of the land, profoundly appreciates their contribution to the national economy and this is the reason why the small entrepreneur takes prime place in the Mahinda Chinthana.

For, sustaining the small businessman is tantamount to succouring the majority of the people and the Lankan polity.

We are in agreement with the organisations at the centre of National Quality Week activities, that the standards established by them have to benefit the small businesses too.

Three of these organisations are, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

As their names indicate, these institutions have played a vibrant role in upgrading the facilities and infrastructure which have been keeping our economy ticking.

ICT standardisation, for instance, has enabled small businesses to tap worldwide markets and reap rich benefits from the business opportunities such links have brought about. Like roles have been played by electrical power grids and power stations.

The standards that have been thus established should translate into more and more benefits for the common man and small businesses and we hope the State would continuously focus on this aspect of development.

Today, the position is no longer challenged that "development" has been lopsided in that only the Western Province has benefited most profusely.

Thus, the majority of our people remains to be empowered. One of the chief means of achieving this is through the continuous strengthening of the SME sector.

Development in the real sense would be achieved only through even and equal distribution of the country's resources and wealth.

This mission could be accomplished to a great extent through the vibrant development of the small enterprisers in our midst. If they prosper, the country prospers.

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