Financial Times

The Small & Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED), the SME arm of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) established jointly with the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNSt.) together with the Ministry of Rural Industries & Self Employment Promotion, is holding its first SME Machinery Fair from September 8 to 10 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre (SLECC).

This year the theme of the exhibition is “Technology for Rural, Micro and SME Development.”

The objective of the fair is to strengthen SMEs to become competitive enterprises, manufacturing good quality products and services at affordable prices and to promote innovative production processes in the SME sector, while generating employment opportunities.

The FCCISL said this will be an annual event that the umbrella chamber is planning to hold with the intention of assisting SMEs by bridging the technology gap that prevail between the western province and other provinces.

Advancement of technology and expertise of foreign exhibitors in the related fields will also help our local SMEs to improve their knowledge and know-how thereby developing the local businesses. "This exhibition will include both local and foreign participants. Along with Sri Lanka companies, foreign exhibitors will also participate from countries like India, Pakistan, China, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam," the chamber said in a statement.

Some categories of machinery that will be included in the exhibition are as follows: food processing, coconut based product manufacture, rice and other agro processing, dairy/farm equipment, metal working/non ferrous/ferrous casting sector, plastics and fibre glass, including recycling, rubber and rubber products machinery, leather/shoe making machinery, tea machinery, welding equipment, coir processing machinery, ornamental products manufacture, and wood working machinery.

fisheries and aqua culture related machinery, pharmaceutical, medical and ayurvedic machinery, range of machinery for rural and micro enterprises, and other services and ancillary equipment.

SriLankan Cargo on June 19 went live with its 24 hour Customer Support Centre and in a statement the airline said its partners can now call 019 733 3222 to retrieve details of their cargo movement through the Colombo Hub or advise the Cargo office on any other specific need.

Head of Cargo at SriLankan Airlines Nalin Rodrigo said, “Keeping our Customer Support Centre open 24/7 will allow our customers who operate on short lead times to get a head start, regardless of which airline is carrying the cargo.”

SriLankan Cargo currently handles the cargo of over 30 customer airlines, in addition to operating its own regional freighter service.

The regional freighter service coupled with our scheduled services is making Colombo the most efficient gateway to the large South Indian market.

Key Sri Lankan industries like the apparel and textile industry, the fresh food industry which includes fresh seafood already depend heavily on airfreight services.

Ragalla Estate of Maturata Plantations in Uva Udupussellawa region has received the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety certification from the Sri Lanka Standard Institution.

This is the first factory in Maturata Plantations Ltd, and the Udupussellawa region, to receive this certification. The European Union (EU), Japan and other major buyers of Sri Lankan teas are now particular about HACCP-based Food Safety Management System (FSMS).

The other renowned marks of Maturata Plantations Ltd. namely High Forest, Liddesdale and Alma in the Udupussellawa Region and Enselwatte, Anningkande and Diddenipotha in the Deniyaya Region are following suit to obtain HACCP certification scheduled for completion by mid 2007.
(CD)