Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-05-10

Economic Empowerment of Women through Apparel based Mini Factories

- The Economic Empowerment of Rural Women Programme of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce envisages to encourage the access of small and medium scale entrepreneurs to the International market and to provide employment opportunities to rural women. In this connection, under a programme implemented by the Sri Lanka Textile and Apparel Institution, a training on dress making will be provided by the qualified trainers, to the rural women selected on a transparent methodology, giving priority to women of the displaced families and those who had become widows due to war. Further, the entrepreneurship development and training will be provided by the National Enterprise Development Authority and the Industrial Development Board. At the same time, the National Design Centre and the National Craft Council will provide design support and training. The sale of apparels so produced will be done through linking national level purchasers and exporters with the Divisional level manufacturers. This programme is proposed to be implemented in the Eastern and Uva Provinces and the areas identified in the selected districts. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, to implement this programme, to establish 150 cooperative / partnership based business model mini apparel factories during the year 2016, through organizing the women who successfully completed their training, as a first stage, was approved by the Cabinet.