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| Thursday, 12 August 2004 |
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German trade fair to promote local plastic and rubber by Irangika Range The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Germany will organise Sri Lanka's participation at the 16th International Trade Fair (K-Fair) to promote the local plastic and rubber industries. The fair will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany from October 20 to 27. An official of the EDB said the major rubber and plastics trade fair in Germany will provide good opportunities for local manufactures and service providers in the country. "The purpose of the participation at the fair is to encourage local companies by introducing local rubber and engineering plastic products to the world market. Local companies can meet premier suppliers who will showcase innovations in raw materials, semi-finished products, technical parts and reinforced plastics, rubber components, machinery and equipment for the plastics and rubber industries at the fair," she said. She said seven local rubber and plastic companies would participate in the fair. "Rubber products such as balloons, gloves, hose pipe, peddle pads, flow coverings, tyres, rubber boots, cases for electrical items and other rubber related items will be displayed at the fair while engineering plastic products such as finished and semi-finished products, technical parts and reinforced plastic products and plastic components will be exhibited," she said. "Although local rubber and plastic exporters have many opportunities in the world market, the productivity of plastic and rubber is not enough for international requirements. Local industrialists should develop a new range of products with innovative ideas targeting the export market. Finding buyers, gaining new technology, improving quality and understanding modern trends are the main problems for local exporters when they enter the international market," she said. She said despite these drawbacks in the industry the EDB carried out a range of development programs for the rubber and plastic sector on designing and improving quality. The EDB implemented a program with The Competitiveness Initiative (TCI), funded by USA to improve local crepe rubber production. The Rubber Research Institute (RRI) is provided technical assistance and research for the program. Already four companies have benefited from the project and these companies export natural rubber products under the brand name "Lanka Prene". The "Thuru Saviya" fund guides smallholders in the industry by solving problems. The EDB has also invited a trade delegation from France to visit Sri Lanka in November. Eight buyers will be here to purchase local rubber products," she said. "With these developments in the country two major rubber products companies such as Trelleborg for tyres and Ancell for gloves were set up last year in Sri Lanka. These companies purchase raw material and are into heat treatment, value addition and selling at high prices in the international market," she said. The EDB organised the exposure program with the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) in India to promote engineering plastic products. Fifteen SME companies participated in the program and gained high technical knowledge. The EDB also expects to organise one to one business meetings with the Organisation of Plastic Process of India (OPPI) to explore the feasibility of financial collaboration in establishing joint ventures for manufacturing plastic products. Twelve Indian trade delegations will visit Sri Lanka in October and display plastic products at the BMICH. A website for the local plastic industry will be launched in the near future," she said. At present rubber prices are high in the world market and this would benefit local exporters. The total exports of natural rubber recorded US$38.4 million in 2003 while it was US$ 26.3 million in 2002. The total exports of rubber products recorded US$ 231.3 million in 2003 while it was US$182.4 million in 2002. USA, Germany, UK and Italy are the main buyers from Sri Lanka and rubber products worth US$ 68.516 were exported in 2003 to USA while it was US$ 54.923 million in 2002. Total exports of plastic and chemical products recorded US$78.19 million in 2003 while it was US$ 67.8 million in 2002. The local plastic products are exported mainly to USA, UK and India. |
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