The Business Development Centre Network (BDC Network) implemented by Business Support Service Facility (BSSF) is now operated islandwide through regional centres. This project was initiated by the Government of Sri Lanka with the financial assistant of Asian Development Bank (ADB) having the objective of creating an environment for small & medium entrepreneurs (SME’s) to use the services of Business Development Service (BDS) providers in their respective areas and to build the capacities of such BDS providers enabling them to cater the changing needs of SME’s efficiently & effectively.

Six BDC’s have been already established to cover whole districts in Sri Lanka located at Colombo, Kurunegala, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna & Trincomalie and those centres are managed by three leading Business Development Service Providers namely Industrial Services Bureau (ISB), Sri Lanka Business Development Centre (SLBDC) and Seeds Guarantee Ltd. ISB handles Kurunegala & Kandy Centres while SLBDC handles Colombo & Jaffna Centres, Seeds handles Matara & Trincomalie Centres.

BDC’s intend to implement its activities in co-ordinating with Government, Private Sector and Non Government Organizations in the respective areas in order to avoid any duplications and to provide efficient & effective services to their target group with greater understanding.

Some of the activities to be carried out by BDC Network are to conduct a district level resource mapping, identification of potential Business sectors, capacity building of BDS providers, preparation of investment & resource profiles for each district, financial support for special projects through a matching grant fund, business counciling, investment promotions etc.

BDC network have conducted stakeholder workshops in every district to make aware of them about the project and its intended activities. Many stakeholders believe that this is a good project to enhance the capacities of BDS providers and to create a market for BDS providers to use their services by SME’s.