Tuesday, 3 February 2004 |
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Lack of good road network hampers economic development - Minister from Shirajiv Sirimanne in Kurunegala The lack of a good road network has hampered the speedy transport of agro crops from the periphery. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the third export promotion zone in Kurunegala yesterday Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera said that there were many export oriented items such as seafood and agro products, which cannot be exported due to the inadequate road network, which takes around eight hours to reach Colombo. This problem also has a negative impact on the investments for the region and tourist potential in the North too is underutilised. Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Prof. G. L. Peiris said that this new export promotion zone would generate direct employment opportunities to over 30,000 and indirect opportunities to another 20,000. The Board of Investment North Western Province (NWP BOI) would invest Rs. 200 million to provide infrastructure for this zone in a 200-acre land belonging to the Coconut Cultivation Board in Makandura Kurunegala. The Minister said that the investments to Sri Lanka have doubled in the recent past and the peace initiative was the main reason for it. The Japanese government has indicated that they would not go away from helping Sri Lanka and added that political differences between the two main political parties should be ironed out soon. Prof. Peiris said that another major donor conference would be held in Washington on February 18 and this would be crucial for Sri Lanka, where officials from Japan, European Union, Norway and USA will attend. According to the CEO, NWP BOI, Suraj Dandeniya, many investors have already contacted them and want to invest in this zone. Smart Shirts is expected to invest nearly Rs. 250 million for apparel sector investment, which would provide employment for 2,500 while an Indian company has agreed to manufacture steel rods for the construction industry. This investment is for Rs. 200 million. |
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