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| Sunday, 20 March 2005 |
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Germany to assist Lanka's handicraft industry by Don Asoka Wijewardena The German Chamber of Commerce in its survey conducted recently has found that around 5,000 SMEs in eleven tsunami-hit districts have been severely affected and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) has already commenced a number of effective programs such as development of the handicraft industry by providing training,designing,pricing,supplying required tools and quality assurance of the final products. Addressing a media briefing at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Colombo on Friday Chamber Development Project Director Peter Rechmann said that the German Chamber of Commerce will assist Sri Lanka's handicraft industry which was badly hit as a result of the recent tusnami and added that the German Chamber of Commerce would train local craftsmen,find international markets for Sri Lankan products and organise the handicraft industry with stability. FCCISL President Nawaz Rajabdeen said that the handicraft industry in eleven affected districts had come to a complete standstill as a large number of craftsmen had lost their belongings,including tools. He said that the industry had to be resuscitated,especially micro industries and added that steps were being taken to to find better markets to sell Sri Lankan products that would be able to meet the needs of the international market. Referring to the German assistance,Rajabdeen said that almost all local craftsmen were not aware of export strategies required to attract lucrative international markets, he said that Project Director of the German Chamber of Commerce Peter Rechmann would assist the FCCISL to train local craftsmen in modern techniques,quality assurance and would request international buyers to purchase Sri Lankan products. President of the Interior Designers Association Swarna Obeysekera said that the FCCISL would hold a mega exhibition and fashion show on April 20 in Colombo to showcase Sri Lankan products such as sarees, handlooms, textiles, handicrafts and pottery to attract people to purchase Sri Lankan products. She explained that the theme of the exhibition and fashion show would be to persuade people,especially foreigners to purchase Sri Lankan products. Referring to the export markets,Obeysekera said that 99% of handicrafts in the Middle Eastern countries were from India and lack of expertise in manufacturing,designing and creation of Sri Lankan products had brought about a slim market for the products. Every effort shoud be made to upgrade the local products artistically to attract foreign buyers and added that a Sri Lankan product should at least be sold at US dollars 5. According to the FCCISL,steps have been taken to train local craftsmen in pricing,quality assurance, modern manufacturing techniques and modern designing. |
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