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Home > News > Partnership for a better cause: RUEDA members awarded for their outstanding achievements |
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Partnership for a better cause: RUEDA members awarded for their outstanding achievements
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Ruhuna Economic Development Agency (RUEDA) as a local economic development institute works towards territorial economic development through networking the public, private and civil society organizations in the Southern Province. Three executive member organizations of RUEDA, Matara Municipal Council, Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce and Kotapola Multi Purpose Cooperative society were recently recognized at the international level for their outstanding achievements.
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Mr. Upul Nishantha, the Mayor of Matara Municipal Council was awarded the membership in the director board of Asia Pacific Region of Commonwealth Local Government Forum [CLGF]. He is the President of the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities. As the representative of Sri Lanka to CLGF, Mayor Upul Nishantha will be a member of the CLGF board from 2009 to 2011. CLGF works to promote and strengthen effective democratic local government throughout the Commonwealth and to facilitate the exchange of good practice in local government structures and services. (www.clgf.org.uk)
At a special ceremony held on June 5th at the 6th World Chamber Congress (WCC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the HDCC and its UK partner the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) were announced as winners of the Best Networking Project category. Their post tsunami chamber project beat off strong international competition to win the award. HDCC in Sri Lanka was approached by GMCC, due to the fact that it is a key and well-respected player at regional and national level and is regarded as one of the most advanced district-level chambers in the country. The competition, organized by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Chambers Federation (WCF), is the only global awards programme to recognize the most innovative projects undertaken by chambers of commerce and industry from around the world. The 2009 edition of the World Chambers Competition attracted 47 entries from 33 countries, from which 19 finalist projects were selected. Azmi Thassim,“[t]his achievement is a result of the very close and effective partnership which has been developed between HDCC and GMCC. It provides an excellent example of two organisations committing to long-term development and has delivered, and is delivering, highly valued results for HDCC and the wider District.” This is therefore a model partnership, which demonstrates the capacity of HDCC to contribute to RUEDA and to the Southern Province’s local economic development.
The Kotapola Multi Purpose Cooperative society was awarded as the best Multi Purpose Cooperative Society for the last five consecutive years in Sri Lanka. Mr. Bandu Ranawaka, President of the National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka, represents Sri Lanka as a member of the Asia Pacific Region of International Co-operative Alliance as well. This involvement will support to share the international experience on co-operatives in Sri Lanka and specially in Southern Province. (www.icaroap.coop)
The broad experience and outstanding performance of its members will be useful for the local economic development activities lead by RUEDA.
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