📈 UN Advisor Outlines Sri Lanka’s Path to Inclusive Growth

• Economic Growth Targets Following macroeconomic stabilization post-crisis, UNDP stresses that sustaining 5-7% annual growth is essential to expand the economic pie and ensure long-term resilience. • Sector Breakdown & Modernization • SMEs: Produce nearly 50% of national GDP; vital for driving inclusive economic expansion. • Agriculture: Requires modernization, higher productivity, and a 2-3 year transition toward local chemical/organic fertilizer mixes to reduce food import dependency. • Renewable Energy: Scaling solar and hydropower is highlighted as key to lowering household electricity costs and boosting energy security. • Electric Mobility & Transport: Accelerating EV public transit adoption to cut household transport expenses and pollution. • Manufacturing & Regional Integration: Leveraging Indian Ocean position to integrate into regional value chains across South and Southeast Asia. • Labor, Financing & Governance • Labor Force: Focus on increasing female workforce participation, reskilling, and creating circular migration models to counter skilled youth brain drain. • Development Financing: Navigating declining global Official Development Assistance (down ~24% in 2025) by tapping climate finance, nature-based bonds, and IMF-aligned multilateral loans. • Governance: Priorities include faster project implementation, cutting bureaucracy, fighting corruption, and water and energy security. [Smart Energy Systems Address by Kanni Wignaraja](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex-rnPagQm8) This video is relevant as it features UNDP Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja discussing how renewable energy and smart energy systems drive sustainable development and resilience.