Pathfinder and Visa team up to help Micro & SME sectors to meet post-Covid challenges

Tourism/inbound & leisure supply chain will also benefit

Mr Rajendra Theagarajah, Senior Visiting Fellow, Pathfinder Foundation led a small work group to examine the implications of the April 2019 terror attacks and subsequent Covid-19 Pandemic on the Micro and Small & Medium Enterprise segment (SME) and tourism/ inbound leisure sector related supply chains.  

The study also took the opportunity to examine the current state of the ‘startup’ ecosystem, specifically the Fin-tec and Agri-tec players, and the opportunities for this sector to energise the MSME/SME segment in contributing meaningfully towards the economic revival of Sri Lanka. Visa, the global leader in digital payments, joined Pathfinder as a strategic partner in bringing local and global insights relating to the role of ‘digitalisation’ in the above conversation, a Pathfinder news release said. 

“Knowledgeable and experienced persons ranging from policy makers, private sector and business chambers were invited as panellists at the three workshops moderated by Mr. Theagarajah as a part of the study,” it said.

The Pathfinder Foundation earlier submitted a comprehensive list of recommendations for consideration by the Government in July of 2020, which was captured under “Beyond the Box: A New Economic Vision for Post Covid-19 Sri Lanka.”

This Report, which was handed over to newly appointed Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa at his ministry, focuses on identifying essential elements and “pain points” for Micro/ SME enterprises, new generation of emerging Fin-Tec and Agri Tec entrepreneurs and businesses involve in tourism/ inbound travel related ventures.

It suggests ways and means of how “digitalisation” can contribute towards energising these businesses and fostering Sri Lanka’s future economic revival. The knowledge and expertise of a global leader such as Visa in the area of digital payments further strengthens the recommendations identified, the release said.

The report also takes cognizance of some of the macro strategic recommendations made in the Foundation’s July 2020 submission. The six key recommendations identified in the report are categorized as short-term operational interventions and medium / long term policy interventions.

A copy of the report can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/pathfinderfoundation