Sri Lanka: Chambers of Commerce to enhance youth employment
The Youth Employment Project (ILO/Japan) works with the Chamber of Commerce (CoC) in Kegalle District. With technical assistance and support from the project, the CoC will a) set up six business clusters, b) analyze and enhance value-chains for each cluster and c) formalize the clusters into small business associations to be affiliated with the CoC.
Finding ways to enhance women participation as entrepreneurs and members of the CoC is key. Photo by: Henrik Vistisen
Read more and see pictures from this activity at:
It is envisaged that the initiative will boost the clusters thereby creating improved employment opportunities for young people in the District. So far the CoC is looking into establishing the clusters for the following areas of business and value chains: 1) tea and rubber, 2) garments, 3) food processing, 4) hospitality, and 5) light engineering.
The CoC is specifically interested in developing business sectors that are relevant to women entrepreneurs and is actively enhancing its female membership. The ILO project provides technical assistance with national and international expertise on entrepreneurship, clusters, value-chains, women entrepreneurship and business association building. The CoC and its membership has used the following criteria in the selection of clusters: a) potential to create employment, b) potential to contribute economic growth in the district, c) high women participation, d) potential to intervene to develop the sector and e) private sector participation.
Read more about the Youth Employment Project (ILO/Japan) at:
http://ap-youthnet.ilobkk.or.th/resources/project-activities/ilo-sri-lanka-youth-employment-project
