Five major sectors identified:

Sri Lanka targets more electronic exports by 2020

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Sri Lanka could capture 0.1 percent of the global electronic market by 2020 by venturing into electronic components and product manufacture said Prof Kapila Jayasinghe of the Moratuwa University making a presentation on the National Action Plan for the Development of value chain in the electronic sector at the Galle Face Hotel organized by FCCISL (SMED) on Friday.

He said that the electronics industry is growing in the world with an industry contribution worth over USD one trillion and Sri Lanka has identified five major sectors that can be developed under the SME sector.

He said that Sri Lanka’s electronic exports in 2008 was USD 48.9 million with more than 170 players and over 10,000 employees’ contribution. The main industry identified is the Electronic Component which includes discrete devices, integrated circuits and resistors.

The Consumer Electronics industry which covers radios, TVs and DVD players is another industry identified.

The other industries are Computer and Office Equipment industry for computer hardware and peripherals and the Telecommunication industry which includes fixed lines mobiles and voice. The Industrial Electronic industry also covers automobile and aerospace.

These industries will attract Foreign Director Investors (FDIs) for components and it will promote joint ventures to manufacture components under licence. It will also promote the design and manufacture of electronic components for niche markets by establishing Sri Lankan brands, he said.

Sri Lanka hopes to commence production and market electronic products in the consumer electronic sector by establishing design service providers in the electronic circuit design and to promote and co-operate with educational and R and D centres, establishing market information and advisory systems for identification of new markets and establishing links with foreign brands, he said.

The electronics industry started with vacuum tubes and radios and became the major industry making transistors and integrated circuits which made a huge impact.

There was rapid growth in the industry over the past 30 years and Asia contributed 56 percent to the industry in 2007 making China the manufacturing region, he said.