In Spain, the RUEDA representatives visited LEDAs in Seville, Extremadura and Barcelona and met representatives of local governments that are supporting AGSL. The mission delegation shared the experiences with Andalusian Fund of Municipalities and International Solidarity (FAMSI), PRODETUR- a local economic development agency focused on tourism development and CARMONA- a tourism promotion incubation programme.
The delegation also had the opportunity to meet much experienced Andalusian organizations for local economic development. RUEDA exchanged views with Rural Development Association in Andalusia, Andalusia Confederation of Social Economy Entities, Andalusia Emprende Network and Andalusian Foundation for Training and Employment Fund (FAFFE) and shared the experiences on local economic development (LED). Then there was also the opportunity for the Sri Lankan delegation to meet grassroots implementers and most of these organizations were very keen to share their experiences with RUEDA. Much experienced LEDA’s in Spain were very keen to extend the necessary technical support to RUEDA in its future endeavors.

RUEDA delegation have visited following partners during their stay in Spain
The ART Seville office has organized the meeting in Seville. ART Seville is a result of the alliance of three different entities. FAMSI, the County Council of Seville and ART-UNDP. The County Council provides a wide experience in the implementation of public policies related to the management of local networks and the economic and community development.

Andalusian Fund of Municipalities and International Solidarity (FAMSI) FAMSI is an association of Municipalities in the Andalusia region. FAMSI organized discussions with a diverse group of partners in the field of local economic development. FAMSI was able to bring together more than one hundred local entities to participate in international networks and to improve the quality of the local governments’ cooperation consolidating multilateral alliances with North-South based on an equal relationship. The discussions, organized with the following partner organiza tions were fruitful to RUEDA as it helped to get an overview of the Andalusia experience on LED and LEDAs. PRODETUE is a LEDA, established in late 1980s, to promote local economic development in Seville. They have a special focus to rural tourism promotion. PRODETUR is working with the Regional Government of Seville, with the members from public, private and trade union representations. CARMONA is an initiative to promote alternate tourism. They have a specially designed tourism incubation programme, targeting unemployed youth in Andalusia. This programme is designed to build up a skilled workforce for the tourism industry. Rural Development Association (ARA) of Andalusia The Rural Development Association of Andalusia (ARA) represents the totality of the rural development groups (GDR) that operate in the Andalusia territory and is the in charge of managing the initiatives and programmes of diversification related to the rural development. The Andalusia network of rural development consists of 50 GDRS which constitutes 50% of the Andalusia population and 90% of the total surface of the autonomous region. It is the biggest network of rural development at a European level and the only official negotiator between the GDRS and the administration. FAFFE is a Public Foundation belonging to the Regional Ministry of Employment. It employs 1400 professionals throughout Andalusia in order to promote employment in the region. The target groups of FAFFE initiative are: workers at all organisational levels, women, and young people, disabled and long-term unemployed. The European Commission approved a project named “Andalusian model of local development and employment, a transfer of a good practice in the European Context”, proposed by FAFFE, submitted under the Progress Programme. Confederation of Social Economy Entities in Andalusia (CEPES) CEPES is a cross sector business organization, uniting organizations, federations, associations, foundations of social economy companies and independent businesses from the autonomous community of Andalusia. CEPES is the social agent of the entire Andalusian social economy and will continue working towards the progress of the economic reality of the region.

In Italy, RUEDA exchanged experiences and the best practices regarding the stimulation of regional economic development with the Italian

The mission was a significant step towards further consolidating RUEDA as the leading LED actor in the Southern province of Sri Lanka. The mission was successful due to the kind support of the AGSL partners, the FAMSI, the ART Sevilla office and the ART Rome office. The UNDP AGSL programme and AGSL Southern Province office, has provided the fullest cooperation to make the mission a success. RUEDA is currently working on consolidating the potential partnerships with European counterparts and identifying future initiatives to carry forward in order to establish concrete partnerships with them.

counterparts and met the representatives of Sri Lankan communities in the country. In Sicily, RUEDA had discussions with the local government authority, which is very closely working with Sri Lankan migrant community. They extended their fullest cooperation for RUEDA’s future programmes. The visited local business ventures in Sicily provided the example how they have created an immense impact to the regional economy. Those business ventures were supported by local economic development agency in the region and this was a good exposure for the delegation to understand how good strategic businesses can support to improve the local economies of respective territories.

CALATINO Integrated Development Agency: CALATINO- LEDA was established in the Municipal area of Kaltagirano. Their regional economy is highly influenced by rural tourism and agro processing business. In the discussions, CALATINO expressed their interest to support the tourism, fisheries and agro processing ventures in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It was proposed to link with the European Union through a joint initiative between CALATINO and RUEDA to get the assistance. The municipality is willing to extend a micro credit programme to Sri Lanka migrant community to start business ventures to benefit their families in Sri Lanka and also the regional economy of Kaltagirano. ILS-LEDA and UNIVERSITAS: The delegation also met the ILS-LEDA and UNIVERSITAS members in Rome, Italy. ILS-LEDA is an initiative to support Local Economic Development Agencies in the developing world. ILS-LEDA provides networking services to LEDAs in developed countries and countries in economic transition, with the aim of helping them reach a higher level of efficiency in the delivery of services and in the pursuit of their goals. They exchanged the RUEDA experience and extended their fullest support for the future partnership. UNIVERSITAS Programme discussed how to improve the capacity of University of Ruhuna as an academic institution in the Southern Province. As a member of RUEDA, the University then can support to productive LED initiatives in the Southern Province. SWILLUPPUMBRIA : The visit to Perugia in the Umbria Region, gave the opportunity to the delegation to meet the members of “SWILLUPPUMBRIA”. This is an organization comprised of municipalities. They have supported AGSL in LED initiatives in the Southern Province through the project on improving the local market place in Angunakolapelessa in Hambantota district and in Uva Province through the mental health project. Therefore, there are better opportunities to make the way forward with RUEDA. Therefore, it was suggested to share the strategic plan and the action plan of RUEDA to plan fruitful future collaborations as SWILLUPPUMBRIA and RUEDA are willing establish a solid partnership. Milano Metropolis meeting: The Milano Municipal administration has briefed about their international cooperation potentials and suggested to collaborate with their CORE programme, which is developed to support migrant communities in Milano. A request was made to RUEDA to revisit the municipality to support them to organize the Sri Lankan migrants to link with their CORE programme. Milano Municipality is looking forward to support RUEDA through their international cooperation strategy.

 
The Sri Lankan delegation comprised of Mr. Bandara Disanayake - Chief Secretary - Provincial Council- Southern Province, Mr. Azmi Thassim - Executive Board President – RUEDA, Dr. Oscar Amarasinghe -Executive Board Member-RUEDA, Mr. Sumith Alahakoon - Executive Board Member – RUEDA, Mr. Prasad Daluatta - Executive Board Member – RUEDA, Mr. Deepthi Lamahewa -Technical Director -RUEDA and Mr. Johannes Krassnitzer -Chief Technical Advisor-UNDP ARTGOLD Sri Lanka. The Chief Secretary of the Southern Province, who is also chairing the AGSL Southern Province Working Group, has accompanied the mission to represent not only AGSL but also the Southern Provincial authorities.