Construction Chamber to focus on economic infrastructure development
by Ramani Kangaraarachchi
The Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) will concentrate on
economic infrastructure within the next two years. This is the most
essential thing for the country's rapid development. The first stage is
signing an MOU with the University of Moratuwa and the Board of
Investment to promote infrastructure development.
President CCI Surath Wickramasinghe said it is impossible to achieve
a sustainable 8-10 per cent growth as our lands are not cultivated due
to lack of infrastructure and inability to irrigate them. At present
some work are done project by project but it is not sustainable. To
overcome this problem the Chamber has planned to have annual sessions to
facilitate a national policy for infrastructure along with a unique
trade fair named "Buyers/Sellers Meet and "SME Fair which will be held
for three days from October 14 at the BMICH.
The event is supported by the Ministry of Housing and Construction
and the German Technical Cooperation. The Fair is designed to enhance
the capacity and competitiveness of the domestic construction industry,
to meet the increasing demand of the reconstruction and rehabilitation
exercise of tsunami affected areas as well as other development
endeavours.
Wickramasinghe said that according to recent data released by the
Ministry of Finance and Planning, work estimated for more than Rs.
60,000 million has to be completed in roads and highways, railways,
ports, airports, electricity, water supply, telecommunication and
housing sectors during 2005 to 2008.
Also 650,000 units are required to meet the demand of affordable
housing for the low and medium income groups in the country.
In this scenario if the tsunami areas are to be reconstructed and
infrastructure development projects are to be continued to achieve
required economic growth there is a definite need to enhance the
capacities of the domestic construction industry, Wickramasinghe said.
He pointed out that it could be done through establishment of joint
ventures with foreign collaborators as against deployment of foreign
contractors and by bringing latest high technologies.
Development of SMEs is of fundamental importance to enhance the
capacities and competitiveness.
They must be exposed to quality expectations of large enterprises and
must have accessibility to financial institutions and high technologies. |
