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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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Identify resources, says Dialog chief Sri Lankans should not wait for certainty to come to us instead we should create certainty with the faith and belief in our consumers, said CEO Dialog Telekom Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, the chief guest at the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA). He said that the key ingredients to the success of the company Dialog Telekom Ltd are the Sri Lankan society and Sri Lankan consumer. Dr. Wijayasuriya said that we never talk about the Sri Lankan consumer and instead talk about the Sri Lankan labour force and the knowledge worker. Therefore he called upon everybody to identify the resources which are in abundance such as people and needs. Dr. Wijayasuriya said that this is how Dialog broke away from the competition. There was a need for telecommunication facilities and people. We at Dialog didn't see the market as a 100,000 subscriber market but as a market with a two million subscriber base. He said that many would think that the Sri Lankan market comprises poor people. Therefore the product should cater to 5 per cent of the nation as a niche product. The other option is to have it as an all inclusive market. In this regard, he said that our retail industry can teach us a lot. This is the way the telecommunication industry has come of age. In addition it is our responsibility to view technology as a tool to create equality, Dr. Wijayasuriya said. Chairman SLAEA, A. Sukumaran said that they are planning to appoint a preferred thread supplier and a preferred Telecom partner for the industry next year. During the first nine months of the quota free era, starting January 2005, the industry has experienced a marginal growth of 5.5 per cent value in US $ terms, compared to a 7.8 per cent growth in the corresponding period last year. He said that if this trend continues the expected growth rate for this year will be around 7 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent recorded last year. Sukumaran said that the anticipated closure of factories on a large scale and the resultant loss of employment did not take place. Instead the industry was able to record moderate growth. The removal of quotas is a threat rather than an opportunity. He said that restraints were placed on China by the USA and EU early this year resulting in some of the key categories from China to USA and EU being embargoed. Therefore we have to adopt strategies to survive and take the industry beyond 2008 as year 2008 is the year in which the restraints placed on China will lapse. Sukumaran said that the industry has received remarkable assistance including Rs. 370 million for productivity improvement, credit Guarantee scheme established and funds to the value of Rs. 600 million allocated, introduction of a suspended VAT scheme for local purchases and income generated from subcontracting and providing services considered as export income if received in foreign currency. Sukumaran also highlighted the problems faced by the industry including the unsatisfactory VAT refund process. He said that on average is takes over 150 days to receive a fund when the stipulated time frame is 30 days. SG |
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