Prima in $ 40 Mn expansion drive in Sri Lanka

Prima Ceylon Ltd., Sri Lanka's the dominant household multinational brand, has earned praise for its role in contributing to our export revenues. "We meet 80% of Sri Lanka's domestic demand for wheat flour and more importantly, we also do significant wheat flour exports, originating from our Trincomalee mills, thereby contributing to Sri Lanka's exports drive as well," said Tan Beng Chuan, Group General Manager of Prima Group Sri Lanka on 10 October.

Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce met Beng Chuan and discussed Prima's supply side role emphasizing on his Group's sister firm Prima Ceylon Ltd, which is a Lankan household brand name that supplies close to 80% of domestic wheat flour needs.

Minister Bathiudeen said: "We acknowledge Prima for its role in Sri Lanka's domestic food security by maintaining strong buffer stocks.

I am also given to understand that Prima wheat flour milled at the Trincomalee plant, consists of almost 90% of our annual exports to Indonesia, which stood at $ 118 Mn in 2011. We thank Prima for supporting our exports drive and also being a strong business link to Indonesia, an ASEAN member."

"We also play a significant role in Sri Lanka's food security as we always keep about three month's flour stocks with us," revealed Prima officials accompanying Tan Beng Chuan. "Prima is also the main supplier to Sri Lanka's bakery and F&B sectors.

We estimate Sri Lanka's annual wheat flour market to be between 550,000 - 600,000 tonnes annually," they said, adding: "We are currently on $ 40 Mn manufacturing and infrastructure expansion drive in Sri Lanka."

Prima's multinational network operations in Asia are in Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Hong Kong and China.