📈 SLCSMI Unveils 8-Point Roadmap to Revitalize SME Sector

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) has launched a comprehensive 'Future SME Sector Development Roadmap' to transform the SME sector—the backbone of the economy—into a resilient growth pillar. • Economic Impact SMEs currently contribute nearly 60% of Sri Lanka’s national revenue. The roadmap aims to transition businesses from mere survival to scalable growth and national recovery. • Key Strategic Pillars Access to Finance: Identified as the primary constraint; calls for low-interest credit lines, state-backed loan guarantees, and simplified banking for rural businesses and women-led enterprises. Digital Transformation: Promotion of e-commerce, digital literacy, and automation to ensure ICT/BPM integration across urban and rural sectors. Export Promotion: Strengthening local value chains and simplifying export procedures to help SMEs enter regional and international markets. • Structural & Regulatory Reforms Infrastructure: Development of dedicated industrial zones, shared testing laboratories, and improved logistics to boost productivity. Ease of Doing Business: Proposals for a one-stop digital platform and simplified taxation/licensing to reduce bureaucracy and corruption. Sustainability: Incentives for adopting energy-efficient technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices to ensure long-term competitiveness. • Capacity & Collaboration Focus on vocational training and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to align policy with real-world business needs.