Public-private partnerships are essential to foster growth, sustainable industrialization, create jobs and ensure the building of a stable and prosperous economy and society.

Public-private partnerships are essential to foster growth, sustainable industrialization, create jobs and ensure the building of a stable and prosperous economy and society. 

Facilitated by the Sustainable Development Council, the Members of the Steering Committee to Promote Private Sector Engagement on SDGs had fruitful discussions with the Ministry of Industries today to discuss progress and issues on standards and certification requirements for Sri Lankan exports, promotion of sustainability reporting and setting in place a robust implementation and monitoring mechanism for SDG Goal 09 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) in Sri Lanka. 

At the meeting, the difficulties faced by the Sri Lankan export sector in complying with the export standards and certification requirements were discussed and the Minister requested a list of inspections/tests that are specifically required for the export sector. It was also highlighted that the Ministry expects to collect the necessary information from the private sector and provide all the necessary testing facilities from the government laboratories at a reasonable price. In addition, the current initiatives taken to develop a national industry database and accounting standards for business responsibility and sustainability reporting were also discussed. 

Several key decisions were taken to expedite the SDG 09 implementation including the establishment of a Steering Committee on SDG 09 as an integrated mechanism to address the challenges in promoting industrial sector development. 

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Industries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and the Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara and included senior officials of the Ministry of Industries, the Director General of the Sustainable Development Council Ms Chamindry Saparamadu and Assistant Director Ms. Sheron Hewawaduge and members of the Steering Committee representing the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Colombo Stock Exchange, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka, Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator.