Maldive fish factory in Kalutara

Tuesday, 2 August 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne stated that the first Maldive fish factory will be opened in the Kalutara district soon.

A businessman from Japan had agreed to provide funds to set up the factory and the agreements to this will be signed within a month.

This will be established in the Kalutara industrial zone. According to the minister Sri Lanka imports 6,000 to 8,000 metric tons of Maldive fish annually and at the market price of a kilo of Maldive fish is around Rs. 2,000.

The Minister expressed hopes that the consumers would be able to purchase Maldive fish at half the price after this factory was set up. Currently Sri Lanka earns Rs.21 million by the exporting fish products and spends Rs. 14 million to import the Maldive fish and other fish products.

The Maldive fish production factory will add another $400 million foreign exchange to the country, the minister further said. (Devlopment.lk)