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| Tuesday, 25 May 2004 |
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Netherlands to promote Lankan handicrafts, giftware, toys by Irangika Range The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and Fair Trade Assistance (FTA) in the Netherlands will organise an integrated product development and export promotion program to promote local handicrafts, giftware and toys in the manufacturing sector. The FTA will develop products by introducing novel designs and techniques to suit the international market. The program will comprise three main phases. A workshop to introduce international market requirements and modern colours and designs trends, will be held from June 17 to 19 at the Colombo Plaza hotel and from June 21 to 23 at the Queen's Hotel, Kandy from 9 a.m. to 4.30p.m. EDB's Director of the Product Management Division Indira Malwatte said this would benefit small and medium scale manufacturers to develop a new range of products with innovative ideas targeting the export market. The workshop also provides modern technologies to improve productivity and quality. According to Phase II and III, the FTA consultants will guide selected local companies individually by visiting their factories. Participants will also have opportunities to visit the "Tendence Fair" in Germany under guidance of consultants. " This would be a good opportunity to meet potential buyers in Germany," Malwatte said. She said local manufacturers, potential exporters and exporters of handicraft, giftware and toy products such as wood, reed, rattan, terra cotta, ceramic, metal, textile and recycled paper based products can gain more benefits from the program. "The majority of handicrafts, giftware and toy industrialists are small and medium scale companies in Sri Lanka and many attractive traditional items are made by expertly skilled local craftsmen. Local companies should understand modern trends when they enter the export market," she said. "Recently EDB guided Laksala and changed the export procedure of traditional items. Laksala followed the system successfully and it is now getting more orders," Malwatta said. "The toy industry is also required for new products with new designs. Most UK based companies have developed new lines of educational toys as highlighted in their catalogues "A world of new ideas". These products are aimed to develop montessori and school children," she said. "Our main buyers are Germany, UK, France, China and Japan. The total exports of wooden products were US $13 million in 2002 while it was US $19 million in 2003. The total exports of toys, games and sports requisites were US$ 27 million in 2002 while it was US $25 million in 2003," she said. |
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