IMPROVING OF BUSINESSES OF SMES THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF 
SMED CELLS
Background
The regional chambers are expected to be the representatives of the regional level private sector. In order to achieve this state these chambers together with the FCCISL need to become effective and innovative in their operations and actively involved in contributing to make the districts / provinces conducive for investment promotion and business development. Therefore, in order to bring the regional chambers and FCCISL to a level where they could jointly carry out their function effectively to serve the members and largely the business community, it is envisaged to establish SMED CELL in the regional chambers where they will be guided by the Small & Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED) of FCCISL in their process through an on- going mentoring service and specific targeted training interventions in business management and marketing, technical product development and administration.
The Small & Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED) of the FCCISL has decided to establish SMED Cell units in identified member Chambers to provide them with Business Development Services (BDS) jointly with International Finance Cooperation IFC in mutually agreeable manner to implement the Project.
Locations
Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Monaragala and Hambantota
The recipients of the Services provided through SMED Cell will be:
- The Member of the respective Chambers;
- The Staff attached to the respective Chambers; and
- The entrepreneurs engaged in Small & Medium Enterprises and the staff members of such enterprises.
Outcome of establishing - SMED CELL
1. Capacity and competency of SMED Cell to facilitate and support the regional chambers to become demand driven and sustainable is improved.
2. The capacity and competence of the SMED Cell to provide services demanded by the business community is improved.
3. Financial sustainability of regional chambers is improved.
4. Recognition of the importance of regional chambers and their role by the business community and the public is improved through SMED Cell.
5. Regional chambers and FCCISL networking to business community is improved.
6. Interregional networking to business community is improved.
Through the establishment of SMED CELL it is aimed to strengthen the SME sector through the provision of infrastructure for business to operate from and to foster the creation and development of the SME’s in the region.
The SMED CELL will assist informal, semiformal and small businesses in the commercial sector to meet the challenge of taking the great leap to the next level of formal sector, the commercial business operation.
SME’s at the SMED CELL will be guided by SMED an on-going mentorship services, business consultations, business management skills training, etc.
