Ministry to develop 200 industrial villages
by Irangika Range
The Ministry of Small and Rural Industries will develop 200 selected
industrial villages investing Rs. 600 million in 2006.
This is under the new efficient plans and projects to achieve the
objective of developing SMEs while promoting value-added product
manufacturing industries.
The Project Director Aruna Gunawardana told the Daily News that the
project considers the promoting of imagination, creativity and
capability of local, SMEs targeting, increase their contribution to the
national economy.
He said that Minister S. B. Nawinna has advised to consider some
major areas such as manufacturing of value-added productivity,
sufficient workers to set up industrial villages because of it spends
large amount of money for each village to establish the infrastructure
facilities, introduction of technology and market facilities.
The project focuses to identify the creativity and skills of each SME
and other potentials at the selection procedure of villages,"
Gunawardana said.
The Ministry expects to embark on an ambitious programme focussing
value-added productivity in each village by promoting traditional local
products such as pottery, kitul, leather, jewellery and coir as well as
other new recognized products which are in high demand in the
international market.
Products such as motor spare parts and handmade papers have good
demand in the international market and the Ministry is exploring
possibilities to set up 2 motor spare parts manufacturing villages and 5
handmade paper products manufacturing villages in near future. Locally
manufactured spare parts would be a good income earner to the country
while it restricts the imports."
"Although the Ministry has set up 200 industrial villages for this
year, there are many practical problems including the difficulty to
sustain workers at the industry, and waiting long time to take approval
to implement construction works.
To remove all these setbacks the Ministry will implement a
well-planned project, which will cater through technological expansion,
modernisation, diversification and quality and productivity improvements
of the SMEs. |