WASME 18TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
DATES 6 – 7 SEPTEMBER 2007

The 18th International Conference will be held in Sri Lanka.
Conference Main Theme: Making SMEs globally competitive: The Challenge and the Way forward.

This will be the first international conference on SMEs of such a magnitude to be held in Sri Lanka. In conjunction with the WASME conference the 2nd “SME Machinery Fair 2007” will be held. SME Machinery Fair is an annual feature organized by the FCCISL in association with key Government Ministries and agencies.

Timing: Tentative schedule for both events is as follows:
WASME Conference : 6th Thursday & 7th Friday September 2007
SME Fair : 7th Friday to 9th Sunday 2007

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Participation
We anticipate more than 2500 executives from small business associations and SMEs to take part in this event. The members of the Sri Lankan SMEs and small business associations are also expected to participate in great numbers. In addition, the conference will bring together a very broad cross section of government agencies, entrepreneurial and SME support agencies, trade and business associations, chambers of commerce, business people, academics, researchers, development and financial institutions and international agencies both local and foreign to a single forum.
Benefits
We anticipate that the conference will create ample opportunities for SMEs in the following ways:
A great opportunity for deserving SMEs to explore the World market opportunities,
A great opportunity to collaborate and seek for global markets through the mutual exchange among the members of SMEs from various countries with diverse sectors,
The conference helps create a more congenial atmosphere for the founding of SMEs and to prepare a better climate for growth.

Invitees
It is our intention to invite the President, of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka to be our Chief Guest for the inauguration of the conference. Ministers in-charge for SME development will also be invited. In addition, heads of government agencies responsible for SME development and support services will also grace the occasion.



陳顯龍博士
香港中小企業促進協會會長
世界中小企業聯會(大中華分會)主席
CEPA 零關稅服務及產品引進協會主席
粵港企業促進會會長
大中華融資代理人專業協會會長
亞太中小企業聯會秘書長
Venture Bank Asia ( President )
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