Lanka thanks Italy for support during tough times, new outfit coming to address granite exporters’ i

Sri Lanka is grateful to Italy for continued support it receives from the European friend, especially during Sri Lanka’s tough times. Sri Lanka is also keen on tech transfer support from Italy for its fledgling $ 16 million mineral granite industry and is also looking to set up a committee to oversee granite exporters’ issues.

“Italy is a keen consumer of our granite. Tech transfer support from Italy will greatly benefit our mineral granite industry, which is very young. I am also looking at formulating a special committee to oversee the welfare of granite exporters,” revealed Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing Fabrizio Pio Arpea, Ambassador for Italy in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, who made a courtesy call on the Minister on 26 January at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Colombo.

“Sri Lanka has been the beneficiary of Italian assistance for a long time and we will never forget how Italy stood by us during tough times. Italy – Sri Lanka trade cooperation is strong and has been on the increase except for 2009,” Minister Bathiudeen said.

According to Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, total trade between the two countries registered US $ 662.41 million in 2010 increasing by 9% over 2009. Sri Lanka’s total exports to Italy recorded a highest level of US $ 462.41 million in 2010.  

Apparel products and clothing have been the major export items to Italy in recent years. The total value of export of apparel products and clothing amounted to US $ 361.55 million. In 2010 (78% of the total exports) while other major exports were solid tyres (3.7%), Fish fillet (2.99%) and tea (1.96%).

Sri Lanka’s granite also is a popular item among Italian granite processing industry. Sri Lanka has four major types of granite deposits (granite proper, gneissose granite, regmatite and graphic granite) in substantial amounts, suitable for processing into cut, polished stones and aggregate products.

The colour, grain structure, hardness and strength of Sri Lankan granite is suitable for the international market and increasing demand for the country’s granites resulted in introduction of new granite export cess. Among the Lankan granite varieties popular are Dolorite, Charnockite, Gneiss Granite, Pink Granite, Rose Quartz, and Calcite.

BTC Italia and Ally Weerasinghe Ltd are top Sri Lankan exporters of semi-processed granite and having Italy as a prime destination. In 2008, 533 Lankan operators were involved in granite breaking/metal crushing sector with Rs. 1.228 billion ($10.7 million) value addition in an overall industry valued around $16.5 million. In 2010, Sri Lanka exported Rs. 28 million ($ 252,000.00) of granite to India, China, Italy, Maldives and Spain.

“We are interested in waterjet granite cutting technology from Italy. I will look into appointment of a committee to oversee welfare of granite industry and granite exporter community,” Minister Bathiudeen informed Fabrizio Pio Arpea.

Fabrizio Pio Arpea, responding to Minister Bathiudeen said: “The granite sector in Sri Lanka should be further incentivised and be expanded. The sector should be developed to compete internationally.”

Fabrizio Pio Arpea revealed: “Waterjet granite cutting technology is an accurate and precise tech but can be expensive.”

Minister Bathiudeen informed Fabrizio Pio Arpea that Sri Lanka is keen to increase granite exports in value added form, rather than in unprocessed form. “Value addition will bring in more forex for us” he said, adding, “Also at this moment we are faced with granite demand for our increasing constructions.”