Sri Lankan authorities are urging over one million small and medium enterprises to scale up operations and pursue international markets, emphasizing the need for improved productivity, compliance, and corporate governance.

The Government has called on the country's SME sector to pursue global expansion opportunities, particularly through exports, as a means of driving economic growth. Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe made the appeal at the National SME Forum Scale Up 2.0, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce's Centre for SMEs in Colombo. He stressed that domestic market focus alone may prove unsustainable given market size constraints and anticipated reductions in import protection measures.

Abeysinghe outlined several recommendations for SMEs seeking to compete internationally. These include improving productivity and quality, adopting new technologies, forming strategic partnerships, and strengthening equity financing rather than relying primarily on debt. He identified creative industries, information technology, and sustainable agriculture as sectors with significant global potential. The Deputy Minister also advised enterprises to implement proper tax compliance, maintain single accounting records, and consider listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange to access international investors and partners who expect sound corporate governance.

Ceylon Chamber Chairperson Krishan Balendra emphasized that SMEs should be viewed as integral to broader private sector development rather than as a separate economic segment. The Chamber committed to facilitating connections between smaller enterprises and larger companies, enabling access to supply chains and emerging market opportunities. Forum discussions addressed practical challenges including financing access, investment readiness, and meeting international standards and certifications.

The forum served as a platform for networking, advisory services, and business matchmaking, building on discussions from the inaugural Scale Up 1.0 event held previously. Officials stressed that supporting SME growth represents a key strategy for wealth redistribution and economic resilience in Sri Lanka's developing economy.