More viable industries to be set up :

UNIDO to step up vegetable cultivation by 90 percent in B’caloa

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO) has launched two pilot projects for vegetable cultivation in Batticaloa under the water sprinkler system which increases productivity by 90 percent, National Director UNIDO Nawaz Rajabdeen told Daily News Business.

He said that this project is very successful and UNIDO will identify more viable industries to be set up in the region and provide technical and machinery support with the assistance of donor countries under the Government’s accelerated development program. Rajabdeen invited the Regional Chambers in the North and East recently to Colombo at the request of Minister of Industries Development Kumara Welgama where representatives of Regional and District Chambers of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, Mannar and Trincomalee were present.

The Trade Associations of North and East representatives of UNIDO project coordinators of the East and members of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Industry also participated.

Rajabdeen said that Minister Welgama has assured assistance to set up the micro and small industrial unit in the regions and an Industrial Zone for SMEs under the Gamata Karmantha in keeping with the Mahinda Chinthana.

He said that cement based industries, light metal industries, fibreglass repair industries for the fisheries sector and small and medium ice plants are among the identified industries.

UNIDO will also identify the SMEs that were affected during the conflict to restructure and provide technical support through UNIDO to develop the region.

As the Government is more focused on the day-to-day lives of IDPs at present, the business community is still reluctant to start businesses.

Therefore, the Minister will give the leadership for that, he said. Rs. 150 million has been allocated to provide harvest machinery to farmers and Rs. 100 million has been also distributed among farmer societies in the region.

Training of youth for skills development and technology will also be done through UNIDO to help their livelihood.

Senior Industrial Development Officer of UNIDO Antonios Levissianos also participated in the discussion at the invitation of the Minister of Industries.