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| Sunday, 8 June 2003 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs envisaged : Garment sector to employ rural youth The Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion is evaluating the performance of 30 garment factory owners who have sent in applications to join the programme to provide job opportunities in rural areas, taking advantage of the facilities extended by the Government. "We will inform the selected owners next week and the programme is expected to get off the ground within the next three months," a Ministry official said. The programme will be implemented under the directions of Minister G.L. Peiris, in keeping with the Government policy of alleviating poverty and unemployment, thereby developing the rural economy. The Ministry hopes to create between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs in rural areas by providing incentives, which will be a win-win situation for the Government as well as the entrepreneurs. This will not only create job opportunities in rural areas, but also develop the rural economy, thus eliminating other social and cultural problems encountered by youth coming into the cities in search of greener pastures. To be eligible for the incentive scheme, a factory should provide 500 jobs while the expansion should create an additional 250 jobs. If a factory is currently employing more than 500, it should provide an additional 250 jobs. A partnership agreement should also be signed with the Ministry to maintain the same number of employees even after the expiry of the quota system in 2005. Incentives To encourage garment manufacturers and exporters located in difficult areas to increase the number of job opportunities, the Ministry will offer a package of incentives including tax and duty-free concessions. The most important incentive is a quota allocation of 25,000 dozens. This includes 60 per cent of the seven high demand categories exported to the US market, 40 per cent of the other 15 categories, 60 per cent of the high demand categories in the Canadian market and 40 per cent of the other 11 categories. Investors who do not enjoy the tax and other concessions offered by the Board of Investment will get an opportunity to refurbish their factories using this facility if they give the required number of jobs and ensure the continuity of their factories and the jobs. Under the programme, the Ministry will also encourage expansion of projects by providing benefits such as duty-free imports and assistance to investors to obtain additional infrastructure necessary for expansion. Areas Under the programme, job opportunities will be created in the areas of Ambalantota, Middeniya, Batticaloa, Suriyawewa, Hanguranketha, Mahiyanganaya, Ginigathhena, Laggala, Moneragala, Bibile, Weerawila, Angunakolapelessa, Galagedara, Wellawaya, Weeraketiya, Polonnaruwa, Medawachchiya, Walapane, Padaviya, Kebithigollawa, Kahatagasdilliya, Kantale, Elahera, Giritale, Maapakandawewa, Panwila, Hunnasgiriya, Agarapathana, Kotmale, Padiyathalawa, Dehiattakandiya, Kalliyankadu, Irattaperiyakulam, Vavuniya, Medirigiriya, Dickoya, Hatton and Kinniya. |
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