Sri Lanka is aiming to entice Japanese investment in the apparels and handloom sectors. "Labour used in Sri Lanka's apparel sector is qualified and skilled in comparison to some other manufacturing destinations providing low cost labour. Our human resource capacity has resulted in high quality apparel exports from Colombo on a continuous basis," Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka told Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo during a meeting in Colombo earlier this week. According to a Ministry press release, the Sri Lanka's tourism growth has become a key driver in the handloom sector surge.
"To strengthen the sector, we have set up a high priority national Handlooms Task Force in early January.
Having set up the new national level task force, we are now preparing to upgrade the sector with product diversification, new training, design development and marketing. Our promising handlooms can utilise valuable Japanese support in this new direction," the Minister said.
According to the Department of Commerce, currently there are about 60 enterprises with Japanese investment, operating in Sri Lanka under BOI regulations at the end of 2009, having invested about US$ 350 million and providing more than 12,000 jobs.
The Japanese Ambassador in response said the Sri Lankan handloom sector looks at interesting proposition. "Fair trade practices are now very active in the Japanese market. Also, to advance in the Japanese market, Sri Lankan apparels and looms need to differentiate more. The main character of the Japanese apparel market is being at the high-end. Sri Lanka handlooms should encourage further product diversification and should also better connect to international markets."
He said Japan and Sri Lanka will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. |
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