Ministry to develop 200 industrial villages

by Irangika Range

The Ministry of Small and Rural Industries will develop 200 selected industrial villages investing Rs. 600 million in 2006.

This is under the new efficient plans and projects to achieve the objective of developing SMEs while promoting value-added product manufacturing industries.

The Project Director Aruna Gunawardana told the Daily News that the project considers the promoting of imagination, creativity and capability of local, SMEs targeting, increase their contribution to the national economy.

He said that Minister S. B. Nawinna has advised to consider some major areas such as manufacturing of value-added productivity, sufficient workers to set up industrial villages because of it spends large amount of money for each village to establish the infrastructure facilities, introduction of technology and market facilities.

The project focuses to identify the creativity and skills of each SME and other potentials at the selection procedure of villages," Gunawardana said.

The Ministry expects to embark on an ambitious programme focussing value-added productivity in each village by promoting traditional local products such as pottery, kitul, leather, jewellery and coir as well as other new recognized products which are in high demand in the international market.

Products such as motor spare parts and handmade papers have good demand in the international market and the Ministry is exploring possibilities to set up 2 motor spare parts manufacturing villages and 5 handmade paper products manufacturing villages in near future. Locally manufactured spare parts would be a good income earner to the country while it restricts the imports."

"Although the Ministry has set up 200 industrial villages for this year, there are many practical problems including the difficulty to sustain workers at the industry, and waiting long time to take approval to implement construction works.

To remove all these setbacks the Ministry will implement a well-planned project, which will cater through technological expansion, modernisation, diversification and quality and productivity improvements of the SMEs.