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| Sunday, 19 May 2002 |
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Japanese experts commend Lankan ceramic industry by SUREKHA GALAGODA A 13-member delegation from the Japan Association for the Promotion of Pottery Industry was in Sri Lanka last week on a familiarisation tour to see the current situation of the ceramic industry. They visited all leading manufacturing plants engaged in the ceramic and tile industry including Noritake Porcelain Ltd., Dankotuwa Porcelain Ltd., Midaya Ceramics Ltd., Royal Fernwood Ltd. and Lanka Walltiles Ltd. Chairman of the Association and former Managing Director of Noritake Porcelain Ltd. R.D. Shibata said the ceramic industry in Sri Lanka has reached international standards in both quality and quantity. He said that many technical personnel and factory management people who started at Noritake have moved to other companies in Sri Lanka and become key players in the industry. Mr Shibata said that the delegation was very impressed with the workers who were very hard working. The factories were clean. They were happy to observe that Japanese management systems were being practised in Sri Lanka. He said that Sri Lanka has many good resources needed for the ceramic industry such as raw materials and a literate labour force. Mr Shibata said: "No Japanese will want to come to Sri Lanka unless there is peace. It is a key requirement for investment." He said that some buyers were interested in purchasing good chinaware from Sri Lanka for export to Japan as well as to the USA and Europe. "If the Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and India is a success, we can expand the business in Sri Lanka to export ceramic products to the entire SAARC region," he added. Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Noritake Lanka Porcelain Ltd. Satoru Shimazaki said this mission was possible due to the peace process in Sri Lanka. |
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