The Industrial Development Board (IDB) was honored to welcome Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sri Lanka, together with her delegation, for a strategic discussion with Mr. Yasas Hewage, Chairman of the IDB, and representatives of the Industrial Development Board, Project Management Office (PMO).
The meeting provided an important platform for a constructive exchange of ideas on advancing Sri Lanka’s industrial ecosystem through strategic collaboration. Discussions focused on several national priorities, including Industrial Waste Management, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Industry Digital Transformation, collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy (MODE), Industrial Consultancy, Capacity Development, procurement best practices, technology enablement for industries, and practical approaches to overcoming implementation challenges.
During the discussions, Chairman Yasas Hewage shared his vision of Industrial Thinking—a transformational approach centred on systematically increasing productivity, innovation, competitiveness, technology adoption, and industrial scale to position Sri Lanka beyond development and towards true economic transformation.
These five strategic pillars are designed to connect fragmented initiatives across the industrial landscape and create an integrated ecosystem that supports the proposed Entrepreneurship & Industry Transformation Authority (EITA)—a future-ready institution envisioned to accelerate industrial modernization, strengthen entrepreneurship, and enhance national competitiveness.
A special highlight of the visit was the presentation of a commemorative token of appreciation by the Chairman to Ms. Azusa Kubota. The memento depicted Jetavanaramaya—the world’s largest brick structure and one of Sri Lanka’s greatest engineering achievements. Beyond its historical significance, Jetavanaramaya stands as an enduring symbol of Sri Lanka’s excellence in hydraulic engineering, construction innovation, cutting-edge design, and industrial ingenuity, while inspiring a modern vision of Zero Pollution, Zero Waste, and Zero Exploitation as guiding principles for sustainable industrial development.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing a strong interest in deepening collaboration on strategic initiatives that will support Sri Lanka’s industrial transformation agenda.
This shared vision is already reflected in several joint and aligned initiatives currently being advanced by UNDP and the Ministry of Industry & Entrepreneurship Development, demonstrating a synchronized national approach towards building a smarter, greener, and more competitive industrial economy.
Among these key initiatives are:
Digital Transformation Support – Accelerating the development of localized digital public infrastructure to enable traditional industries to seamlessly adopt digital technologies, access digital marketplaces, strengthen supply chains, and integrate with modern financial technology ecosystems.
These collective efforts reinforce a common commitment to building an innovative, technology-driven, environmentally sustainable, and globally competitive industrial sector, creating lasting value for Sri Lankan industries, entrepreneurs, and future generations. Together, through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to innovation, the Industrial Development Board and UNDP Sri Lanka are laying the foundation for an industrial ecosystem that is not only more productive and resilient, but also capable of transforming Sri Lanka into a regional leader in sustainable industrial development.
Venue: Board Room - IDB
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