Bright future for SL exports, Swiss envoy tells Basil

Wednesday, 13 March 2013 01:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Switzerland Ambassador in Sri Lanka Thomas Litscher said Sri Lanka’s investment-friendly policies have made it possible to manufacture and export high quality products with no difficulty. According to him, large scale investments Swiss companies have made in the island have generated employment for Sri Lankan youth in areas like Badalgama in Gampaha, where a factory for manufacturing electronic items for export has been set up.

Swiss Ambassador Litscher said at a meeting with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the ministry office recently.

Programs to improve employees’ technological knowledge, library facilities and residential facilities for staff officers have been provided by the company running the electronics factory which has been built under environmental friendly regulations, according to the Project Chief Andre Baetting. He further said that the rate of production will increase in the coming years since Sri Lanka’s technological level is high. Already, this factory’s products are being exported to the USA, Britain and other European countries. Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that steps are being taken to increase the production rate of industries in the investment promotion zones through advanced environmental-friendly technology. Accordingly, a leading cement manufacturing company is using timber for generating electricity which the company’s factory requires. The Minister added that these measures have helped train unskilled labour and acquire more manpower to raise production.

Observing the great demand nationally and internationally for skilled labour, he said that the country’s higher educational and vocational training institutions are currently providing the youth with technology-oriented training and knowledge required for the purpose. Minister Basil Rajapaksa also told the Swiss ambassador that Sri Lanka’s tourist industry is rapidly developing and that the number of tourists from European countries is increasing.

Project Chief Andre Baetting, Chandana Dissanayake and several senior Government officials attended the meeting.