In a bid to overcome environmental issues the Industries Ministry will create a special zone to relocate all Tannery industries (place where the skins are processed) to Valaichenai disclosed Industries Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara at the opening of the 13th Footwear & Leather at the BMICH.
She said that they have already allocated 50-acre land and the zone could start before the end of the year.
She said due to environmental and cultural barriers Tannery industries are shunning away in populated areas and it takes around 84 weeks to get a licence issued. “How can an investor wait such a long time,” she asked. “It is to iron out this issue that we are catering to this zone,” she said. In the Leather Industry, apart from tanning, leather bags, small leather goods such as gloves, wallets, bags, purses, belts, and key tags are also produced and all these industries open in the new zone.
She also disclosed that it takes 32 weeks to get land approved for an industry project and they are taking steps to reduce this as well.
Jayasundara said that they know that funding for the SME is a major issue and they have already spoken to the treasury to give out the budget allocation of Rs. 20 billion towards the industrials sector within the next two months. “This would be under 10% interest rate.”
“We should forget the past and look to the future as to how to move the industry sector to the next step.” She also praised the industrialists for their contribution towards the country’s economic recovery process.
Sri Lanka’s Premier Footwear & Leather Fair was organised by the Sri Lanka Footwear & Leather Products Manufacturers Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries, Industrial Development Board and the Export Development Board.
She also said that some as well as larger companies should adopt lean management techniques. “This will help companies to reduce their day-to-day operational costs at least by 30%.”
Shirajiv Sirimane