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BOI approves advanced technology for fish processing plant

In a breakthrough in the fisheries sector, the BOI granted approval under the special technology category to a fisheries project, which uses technology not previously used in Sri Lanka and this project, would upgrade our regional competitiveness in the sector. Chun Cheng Fishery Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd., Singapore will commence a food processing plant with a proposed capacity of 12,000 metric tons per year. The technology involves the proper handling of processed frozen cargo from source to cold storage, to production and finally to the commercial end user at -50 to -60 degrees centigrade. The process envisages the collection of regional stock of Tuna fish at -50 to -60 degrees centigrades on board Tuna long liners, the proper storage and maintenance of this product at the same temperature and the processing under +15 degrees centigrade room temperature and continually maintaining and transporting the product at -50 to -60 degrees centigrade to markets principally in Japan and the US. The process is essential for the sale of Sashimi.

Raw materials will be purchased from various sources including the required long liners, which will also utilize supplies and facilities of our port and ship repairing and maintenance off the Colombo dockyard. The project will also set up a flake ice plant. Ice will also be made available to local fishermen. The first phase of the project will provide training and employment to locals in technical and skilled grades. The project will also source export quality fish from local fishermen for export. As the second phase of the project, a fish-canning factory will be set up subject to feasibility studies based on the availability of fish supply.

The project will also require a tremendous number of frozen containers to transport the cargo and Mr. H. H. Chuang, President, Chun Cheng group said: "It will make Colombo a new world center of distributing frozen seafood" and that "along with the development of the project it will entertain an immense global recognition of quality products from Sri Lanka."

The envisaged second phase includes the building up of the domestic logistic network of frozen products, which will help local fishermen to preserve their valuable catch. The project will also implement HACCP (Hazard analysis critical control point), which is a mandatory requirement for food processing industries in many countries. A BOI spokesman said that the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources had confirmed that the technology of processing of storage of fish at -50 to -60 degrees centigrade had never been attempted anywhere in Sri Lanka. Further, the storage capacity planned at 712 metric tons is based on the assumption that the fish products that are passing by Sri Lanka will now have value addition on our shores. Mr. Chaung has also said that this technology was not available in any part of Asia bar Japan.

The BOI spokesman added that they were truly delighted that they were able to attract this large investment with significant technology transfer at the current juncture of a global downturn in investment inflows. It must be noted that Sri Lanka's fish exports are showing increasing competitiveness with the Central Bank reporting a record Rs. 10 billion in foreign exchange from fish exports which was a 91% increase over the previous year.

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