Industrial production should be eco-friendly, socially responsible - Minister

Irangika Range

INDUSTRIAL POLICY: The country should incorporate aspects of environmental protection, social responsibility and resource conservation into the design of industrial production in developing industrial policies, Industrial Development Minister Kumar Welgama said.

The inauguration of the regional training programme under the Cleaner Production Toolkit For CP Trainers was held in Colombo yesterday.

The programme was organised by the National Cleaner Production Centre in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Welgama said the concept of Cleaner Production is a successful and most appropriate solution for achieving eco-friendly, socially responsible and economically beneficial industrial production.

'Today the price of raw materials has gone up and therefore the final cost has also increased.'

"The water is getting polluted and scarce. The cost of production is increasing at a rapid pace. Therefore it is important for our industrial enterprises to bear all these concerns in mind if they want to compete successfully with international players," the Minister said.

The National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) plays the role of a facilitator for industrialists who need relief in their operational problems. It has done yeoman work with industrialists, universities and other stakeholders in promoting eco-friendly industrial production during the last four years.

These services should be provided to regional industrialists and also SMEs at reasonable costs. The practitioners who get trained through the courses should also realise that by assisting industrialists in their operational problems, they are performing a national duty by helping local entrepreneurs to compete with international products.

The NCPC, an institution under the Ministry of Industries Development operates under the UNIDO support programme funded by the Norwegian Government and helps industries reach the international standards.

Several international participants from the Asia Pacific region participated. The outcome of this workshop will ensure that more trainers in cleaner production will be available in the world to assist industries.

He said the industrial policy of the Government under the "Mahinda Chintanaya" is to take industries to the village and promote provincial and rural industrial development. "This is the way to encourage rural entrepreneurs and the rural population to benefit from industrialisation. The key programme of the Ministry, Gamata Karmantha project is also based on this concept.