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Latest News

FOUR AMAZING ENTREPRENEURS REACH YBI ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINAL

HDCC WINS AWARD AT PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM SRI LANKA 2009

HAMBANTOTA PORT PROJECT AHEAD OF SHEDULE

WORLD CHAMBERS COMPETITION 2009" WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce(HDCC) and Manchester Solutions (MS), part of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, commemorate the fifth Anniversary of their partnership

The 28th July 2010 marks the fifth Anniversary of the tremendously successful partnership between the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) and Manchester Solutions (MS), part of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which won the World Chamber Competition for the Best Networking Project in 2009 at the 6th World Chamber Congress.

The partnership emerged in response to the tsunami which hit the Hambantota District particularly severely and left huge devastation in its wake. The GMCC, the largest in the United Kingdom, and its service delivery company, MS subsequently made the decision to invest in a programme to support economic redevelopment in the area. HDCC was approached since it is a significant and well-respected organisation regionally and nationally in Sri Lanka and is regarded as one of the most advanced and developed District Chambers in the country. For five years the two Chambers have been working closely on a series of development projects associated with both the development of the Hambantota District as well as of HDCC itself.

What started as an initial three-year Partnership Agreement, has now been extended by two further three-year agreements, with current plans operating until 2011. The initial Agreement was signed in the expectation that, should the partnership prove mutually beneficial and successful in its aims, then the Agreement would continue beyond this three-year timeframe. This extension reflects the two Chambers' commitment and success.

Three primary objectives were decided upon in 2005 which centred on working together to promote long-term economic re-development in the Hambantota District, supporting the organizational development and success of HDCC, and developing mutual links between the two Chambers and their members. Substantial progress has been made since then through the commitment of staff time and expertise. HDCC and MS have worked closely on a number of development projects: an Economic Development Strategy (aimed at maximising the local benefit arising from the current new developments in the Hambantota District such as the International Airport, deep-sea port, and the International Cricket Stadium), Tourism Development, the Careers Service Centre development, and within HDCC the development of: human resource systems and staff development programmes, IT resources, systems and infrastructure, membership and membership services, and financial management capacity and systems.

The project has been especially innovative since not only has it formed the first major Chamber-to-Chamber partnership for both Chambers, but it has identified and developed a new model for progressing international development partnerships. It has involved a long-term commitment to sharing expertise and resource rather than just a one-off financial contribution. Financial investment has nevertheless included: the purchasing of IT hardware and software to increase HDCC's capacity, funding some salaries and staff development programmes for example Ms Krishanthi Weerasinghe , Partnership Development Manager is currently working towards her MBA from the Open University with the support of Manchester Solutions), and enabling representatives from Hambantota's tourist sector to attend the International World Travel Market event in London, which also resulted in increased international recognition for HDCC.

Regular contact is made between each HDCC staff member and their Manchester partner through emails and through Skype-video-conference to eliminate the boundaries that separate the organizations which are over 9000km apart. International exchanges have also been made, where staff have worked in-situ on developing new skills, approaches, experience and new relationships. Mr Fazlim Batcha, IT Manager was in Manchester for six months and gained Microsoft training qualifications alongside working with other employees in the Manchester IT Department. Other visits have been exchanged and the Director General of HDCC, Mr Azmi Thassim and the Deputy CEO of Manchester Solutions, Mr Drew Thomas now make annual trips to their counterparts to monitor and accelerate the progress. Long lasting personal friendships have consequently been built which can only strengthen the partnership further.

The results of HDCC capacity building put it in an excellent position to assist local businesses in taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the projects such as International Airport, Deep-sea port etc. Ultimately, these are undoubtedly going to have profound effects on the local economy and the two organisations will be working especially hard in order to maximise the potential advantages of all the future developments in the Hambantota Distric

FOUR AMAZING ENTREPRENEURS REACH YBI ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINAL

Four successful entrepreneurs have made it through to the final of the YBIEntrepreneur of the Year competition after being voted for by the members of the YBI Network.

Colin Davison from Canada, Fathuma Nisreen from Sri Lanka, Shriram Kaluke from India and Alex Tam and Felix Chung from Hong Kong all won their categories to secure a place at the final, which will be held in Mexico City on 23 September.

The competition, which is supported by Barclays Capital, shows howentrepreneurs all over the world are creating jobs and developing successful new businesses with the support of the members of the YBI Network.Each of the four finalists will fly to Mexico City with their mentor, where they will be interviewed by an expert panel of judges. The judges, who have yet to be announced, will decide who will be the YBI Entrepreneur of the Year 2010.

Fathuma Nisreen Represented for HYBP of HDCC

Winner, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year

Fathuma Nisreen has become a role model for her successes in overcomingthe restrictions facing Muslim women and setting up Ramsi Fashion, a designer and manufacturer of traditional outfits and bags. She has been able to show that Muslim women too can engage in businessactivities and contribute to the economy as well as their family.

HDCC WINS AWARD AT PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM SRI LANKA 2009

At the 3rd Travel & Tourism Presidential Awards ceremony held on June 15th 2010 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre, Colombo the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) was announced as the winner of the Local Destination Development –Provincial Tourism project category.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Economic Development in partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism in order to recognise and reward excellence among industry stakeholders both past and present, and to encourage and ensure an even greater contribution in the future to the sustainable development of the tourism industry.

After the devastation of the tsunami in December 2004, the tourism industry in the Hambantota District suffered a huge setback, with many tourism businesses destroyed or very badly damaged. With the support of grants, loans and other facilitations, some of the businesses were able to rebuild and start operations again. However, visitor numbers have not recovered to the levels that they had reached before the tsunami, largely because of the security situation in the country. Now, with the end of the war and the easing of the security situation, the time is right to increase the marketing of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and, in particular, for HDCC to accelerate its promotion of the unique attractions of the Hambantota district to overseas visitors

‘Deep South’ is the creative theme of the HDCC’s tourism development project which seeks to promote the Hambantota District as a prime tourist destination. The HDCC had undertaken a number of activities to uplift the tourism industry in the district with the active participation and assistance from Mercy Corps and technical support from UK-basedManchester Solutions. Tourism development is an important component of the HDCC - Manchester Solutions partnership project which has been in place since 2005.

Hambantota port project ahead of shedule

Undoubtedly Hambantota is the most rapidly developing region in Sri Lanka at present with billions of rupees being pumped in during the last four years. One would say that Hambantota came into focus because President Mahinda Rajapaksa hails from the area. It’s true that the President’s initiative helped complete the ongoing projects in or even ahead of time.
Hambantota was not developed for centuries. People did not have drinking water let alone electricity and other necessities of life.

As Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa said recently though millions of people pass through Hambantota each year on their way to Kataragama no one bothered to spend some timehere.
The district was also listed as one of the most underprivileged districts with low income generation and high unemployment rate. The road network was in a very bad condition. Incidents of organised gangs robbing motorists in the night were also reported in the past. The Hambantota district was relegated to wilderness while the surrounding areas were developed.
What Hambantota needed was a mega development project to kick-start the development drive and solution was to go ahead with the proposed Harbour development project which was in the pipe line for nearly two decades

To expedite this, billions of funds were needed and President Rajapaksa himself shouldered this burden by wooing the Chinese investors. Today the Hambantota port project is no longer a dream, but a reality coming true by end of this year.
As expected, the Port development project has already opened up numerous business opportunities after bringing in investors to the region.
The new port will commence its operations by November 2010, said Ports Authority Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrema. The construction work of the Port is five months ahead of the schedule with more than 50% key wall, 40% Excavation work, 100% Breakwater construction being completed.

The first phase will consist of two general purpose berths, one bunkering berth and a small craft berth which is 120 metres long.
Work at the Tank Farm Project and the 15 floor Administration complex, which would be the tallest building in the district, too is on course. Also a fully fledged Bunkering Facility and a Tank Farm Project will be constructed with 14 tanks for bunkering and six others for Aviation Fuel and as LPG Tanks.

The second major development project is the international airport at Mattala. The new airport, with an investment of Rs. 22 billion with foreign funding would certainly enhance the country’s image. The airport, in the first phase would consist of one runway. In the second stage the mega project would provide the necessary taxiway facilities for bigger aircraft like A380s to land.
The airport, in the first five years, would primarily focus on cargo operations in line with the Hambantota harbour.

The objective behind the Hambantota Master Development Plan is infrastructure development, and uplifting people’s living standards not only in Hambantota district but in the adjoining backward areas such as Moneragala and Matara bringing them in line with other developed districts in the country.

Tourism in these areas too would have a major positive impact on the national economy while Mattala International Airport would serve as the cargo hub to the East.

These two mega projects have initiated a chain of development which would make Hambantota a fully developed district in the very near future. The road network has been redone with carpeted roads and night lighting largely reducing the travel time to the area.

Lighting Hambantota was initiated three years ago to provide electricity to all by end of next year and similarly solutions to the drinking water problems too have been found. Healthcare facilities too have received a boost with all existing hospitals being upgraded

In 2006 the Government spent Rs. 39 million under the decentralised budget, Rs. 61.79 million - Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 263.31 million Southern Provincial Council, Rs. 557.26 million - State authorities totalling to a sum of Rs. 921.36 million.
Similarly in 2007, the Government spent a total of Rs. 3,098.35 million, with Rs. 38.77 million provided by the decentralized budget, Rs. 1,029 million Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 229.28 million - Southern Provincial Council, Rs. 1,614.25 million - State Authorities, Rs. 163.30 million Maga Neguma Programme and Rs. 22.80 million - Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma scheme.

Continuing with these development activities, the Government spent Rs. 7,297.73 million in the year 2008, representing Rs. 33.40 million provided by the decentralized budget, Rs. 498.79 million - Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 280.80 million - Southern Provincial Council, Rs. 5,882.41 million - State Authorities, Rs. 131 million - Maga Neguma Programme and Rs. 471.33 million - Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma scheme.

In the year 2009, the Government spent a total sum of Rs. 7,399.29 million representing Rs. 34.80 million provided by the decentralized - budget, Rs. 314.14 million Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 458.23 million - Southern Provincial Council, Rs. 6,141.11 million - State Authorities, Rs. 279.80 million - Maga Neguma Programme and Rs. 141.21 million - Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma scheme.

The Government implemented several housing projects during the period 2006-2008 to help the people. In the year 2006, the Government spent Rs. 19.20 million to construct 380 housing projects. In 2007, Rs. 8.40 million was spent on 210 housing projects and in the year 2008, Rs. 19.20 million was spent on 377 projects.

Agriculture is the main source of income for the majority of people in the district and the Government has been pumping in funds regularly to this segment to help raise their living standards.
During a period of three years, the Government spent Rs. 11,310.64 million for development of roads, electricity, water supply, housing, health facilities, education, irrigation and agricultural sectors in the Hambantota District. In the year 2009 alone the Government spent Rs. 7,406.09 million for the development of these sectors.

The Matara-Kataragama Railway project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport, is estimated to cost Rs. 9,100 million. It would help the agricultural sector to move goods freely and also reduce post harvest losses.
The administration complex which would house all government buildings is expected to be fully operational by end of this year.
Azmi Thassim, CEO Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce said that the people in Hambantota District in general and the business community in particular, are very encouraged by the development projects in progress.

“As a result of the major improvements in the transport infrastructure, together with port, airport, cricket stadium and other projects involving massive amounts of capital investment, there is an unprecedented opportunity to redress the imbalance. These major projects, if handled well, could accelerate substantially the economic development of the District and bring the associated benefits to its people. Moreover, because of the mega nature of some of the projects, the benefits should also be felt across Southern Province and beyond as well.”
“However, if this challenge is to be met, there is much to be done. Economic success will be dependent on the full engagement of the private sector, and the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce members are determined to play their part in this process.” “What is needed today is common vision and a well-coordinated implementation programme.”
“There is need for the Government to prioritize and coordinate its activities and to strengthen the decision-making processes. We would like to see a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down development process. There is need to recognize the local community and harness their energies, if the full potential benefits of the development priorities are to be realised. We therefore want to see more local participation in the decision-making bodies. We are confident that this will contribute substantially to make the ongoing projects a sucess.”

A land utilization plan is also needed. We also want to see greater transparency and opportunity for the local people and the business community to tender for and invest in projects and to get involved in the supply chain, as entrepreneurs and also in taking advantage of the many job opportunities,” he said.
“If local businesses and people are to seize these job opportunities there will also be a substantial need for skills development.
We are keen to work with Government at all levels in developing initiatives to assess the needs of local businesses and the people and to help them to develop the necessary skills and capacities. The HDCC as the representative of the business community would like to offer its fullest support and cooperation in this regard and also more in participating in planning, decision-making, implementation etc.”
Suresh de Mel, an industrialist cum exporter in the Hambantota district commended the rapid development taking place in the area which was lacking for several years.

De Mel feels the ongoing development would create more employment opportunities and lead to empowerment of the area which is extremely important for equitable socio-economic development, not only in the Hambantota District, but in the neighbouring Eastern, Uva and Sabaragamuwa districts as well. He feels that as investments start coming into the area, there will be a high turnover of workers from existing jobs and stiff competition for labour. Already the public sector is hiring many workers away from the private sector to fill the various government offices that are to be opened up in the District. In a bid to provide leisure activities and wooing more tourists to the area a Safari park is being constructed in Ridiyagama and the officials have expressed confidence that this would be open to the public by next year. The construction of a six-and-a-half-kilometre-long wall along the outer boundary of the 500-acre park is under construction. Rs. 500 million Dry Zone Botanical Garden project is being constructed.

Animals such as white tigers and similar species would be brought from other countries and people would be able to see animals roaming freely.
The International Conference Hall Complex is estimated to cost U.S.$ 15.3 million while the Administration Complex is estimated to cost U.S.$ 20.3 million. These two projects are being implemented by the Urban Development Authority. The entire project is being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,250 million.
In a bid to make the film industry more cost-effective and professional a Tele Cinema Garden at Ranminitenna is being constructed and would be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 30th this month. This project is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and it will fulfil a long felt need of the Film and Tele Drama producers.
The Ranminitenne Tele Cinema Garden is constructed on a 235 acre land at a cost of over Rs. 5 million. It consists of natural environment, rivers, lakes, mountainous locations, forests, as well as village and urban locations. Ranminitenna will provide the prospective Film and Tele Drama producers all the amenities and services needed for their Film or Tele Drama Projects.

It has been designed and implemented in accordance with plans formulated after consultations with the producers, artistes, musicians, engineers.
The international cricket stadium which hosts two games of the next Cricket World cup next year and the international racing track would bring more international travellers to the area.

World Chambers Competition 2009" winners announced

At a special ceremony held on June 5 at the 6th World Chamber Congress in Kuala Lumpur, the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce and its UK partner the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce/Manchester Solutions were announced as winners of the Best Networking Project category. Their post tsunami chamber project beat off strong international competition to win the award.

Mr Drew Thomas, Deputy Chief Executive of Manchester Solutions said, ‘We are all very pleased that our joint work achieved this recognition and I hope that the award will be a springboard for greater prominence for our work and the work of our respective organisations’.

Mr.Azmi Thassim, Director General of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce said, ‘This achievement is a result of good work done through the partnership between HDCC and Manchester Solutions. We are very happy at this significant achievement’.

Best Networking Project:

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce for their
Post-Tsunami Chamber Cooperation project