Dr Amunugama holds interactive discussion with BOI Zone Manufacturers Association

Dr Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion met with the Presidents, Secretaries and Representatives of the Manufacturers Association from the 12 Export Processing Zones of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.  Also participating at this interactive session were Mr. Channa Palansuriya, Board Member of the BOI, Mr. A.M.C Kulasekera, Deputy Director General (Investment) and Mr. L.D. Dickman, Deputy Director General (Infrastructure) of the BOI, senior officials of the BOI and leading entrepreneurs and investors.  The objective of this meeting was to create an ongoing dialogue between the Government and Private Sector to discuss challenges faced by industries following the recent global economic downturn.  Minister Amunugama told the business community that the Sri Lankan economy was highly resilient in facing the current economic crisis as a result of the lowering of the price of oil and the reduced cost of building materials.

Furthermore by 2010 the cost of power would go down when the Norochchollai Plant becomes operational.  Currently there were some positive signs such as growing occupancy at hotels in Colombo and outstations, which was a sign that the tourist sector was recovering.

Discussions also centered on increasing the salaries of Zone workers.  On this issue and other relevant matters pertaining to the zones, the entrepreneurs from the various Export Processing Zones made a number of suggestions and recommendations. These included the need for boarding houses and other welfare facilities for workers. The BOI recently started work on a hostel for 1,500 workers at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone. The new facility will be built on 3 acres of land and will include accommodation, recreational and medical facilities, a restaurant and a shopping area.

The Minister also discussed a number of steps taken by the BOI to access more effectively new sources of investment from India and from China.  The opening of Sri Lanka Centre at the Shanghai Mart was one action in this direction.