SLCSMI unveils roadmap to boost SME sector

THE Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) yesterday unveiled an eight-point 'Future SME Sector Development Roadmap', outlining a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming small and medium enterprises into a resilient and growth-oriented pillar of the national economy.

- 

Presenting the roadmap at a press briefing, Chamber President Prof. Rohan De Silva stressed that SMEs remain the backbone of the country's economy, contributing nearly 60% of national revenue, yet continue to face systemic challenges that limit their growth potential.

The eight-point roadmap includes; access to finance, digital transformation, market access and export promotion, capacity building and training, infrastructure development, regulatory support and ease of doing business, sustainable practices, and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The briefing was attended by senior office-bearers of the Chamber, including Immediate Past President Mohideen Cader and Senior Vice President Colin Fernando.

At the core of the proposed roadmap is improving access to finance, which the Chamber identified as the single biggest constraint faced by SMEs. The plan calls for the introduction of low-interest SME credit lines, State-backed loan guarantee schemes and simplified banking procedures.

Fernando said supporting startups, women-led enterprises, rural businesses and export-oriented SMEs, with financial inclusion and cash-flow stability as national priorities.