Three new industrial zones in North

Irangika RANGE

Three new industrial zones will be established in Mannar, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya within the next few months, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiutheen told Daily News.

He said this will help strengthen the economy in the entire Northern region which was deteriorated by the 30-year terrorist war.

A land has already been identified to set up the industrial zone in Mannar. The lands for the industrial zones in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi are now being identified.

The program was mooted to lend a helping hand for small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the Northern Province and they will be provided with required facilities minister Bathiyutheen said.

The ending of the war has provided more opportunities for businessmen in the North and East, he said.

This will also generate more career opportunities for youth in the North especially ex-combatants who have been rehabilitated and integrated in to society recently. Local industrialists especially SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) will be granted more relief to commence ventures," he said.

"We have created a conducive environment for the expansion of the local manufacturing sector while improving necessary infrastructure facilities required by industrialists," the Minister said. Using all available opportunities would help generate more socio economic benefits to its people, the Minister said.

" These development projects will also generate a wide range of opportunities for foreign and local investors," he also said.