Footwear industry wants tariff structure change
Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The proposed measures to develop the footwear industry including
capital and technology infusion will facilitate rapid progress while
addressing the need for skill development.
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Ranjith Hettiarachchi |
The local footwear industry records 10 percent annual growth and
providing industrial training to harness the skills will enable the
industry to capture potential global markets, Footwear Advisory Council
Chairman Ranjith Hettiarachchi told Daily News Business.
"The footwear industry production fashions change constantly and
there is a need for skill upgrading and modern technology use to meet
the trends. The industrialists should keep abreast with the current
trends to become a vibrant industry," he said.
The Council has proposed a change in the tariff structure to support
the high cost of machinery and raw material imports where it expects
duty free concessions. The shoe moulds are imported from China and
Taiwan and the Council requests to reduce tariff on these items as it is
a high cost component in the production.
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Footwear industry fashions |
The production of moulds locally has not reached the required
standards and it is not economically viable at present.
Plans are under way to set up a fully fledged training facility
shortly to enable the footwear industry to reach global standards and
resume shoe exports as in the past. While measures are proposed to take
the footwear industry to the next level, the Council also requests the
government to consider procument of footwear requirements to be sourced
from the local market.
"There is a need for a one-stop shop that also provides comprehensive
information on industries such as footwear to facilitate investor
requirements.
The lack of statistical data regarding small industries is a drawback
to attract investment and technological know-how. It will also helpful
to assess the future direction and impact on the economy. A centre of
this nature will provide vital guidelines to ascertain industrial
viability for further assistance," Hettiarachchi said. |
