Industries will be developed in keeping with global demands -
Kumara Welgama
by Lalin Fernanopulle
The government has recognised the importance to develop industries in
keeping with the demands of globalisation, said Industrial Development
Minister Kumara Welgama.
He was addressing a gathering at the factory relocation of the Ceylon
Glass Company PLC in Horana on Monday.
The Minister said the government has extended the time frame to
finalise the 300 factory program up to March 2009.The factory program
launched under the Mahinda Chintana development program was scheduled
for March 2008.
"Rural development is a priority in the government's development
program to bridge the regional disparity. Development which is confined
to the Western Province must be taken to the other provinces", Minister
Welagama said.
Setting up factories in villages of this nature will provide
employment to youth and help to bridge regional disparity.
Ceylon Glass Company has grown over the years and it will help to
bring down the unemployment rate in the district.
CEO Ceylon Glass Company, Sanjay Tiwari said the company decided to
relocate the factory to expand its production capacity and cater to the
growing local and international markets. The investment on the new
facility is Rs. 3.7 billion.
The company targets a production of 250mt of glasses per day. The
production capacity of the Ratmalana factory was around 140mt per day.
Of the five manufacturing lines production in one line has commenced
and production in two other lines will commence within the next two
weeks. The company plans to commence operations of the fifth
manufacturing line by the first quarter of 2009.
Tiwari said coloured bottle glasses which has a great demand locally
and internationally will be produced. The world market for food and
beverage glasses is over US$ 12 billion.
Ceylon Glass Company which was launched in 1955 was taken over by the
Gujarat Glass Company in 1999 and today it has a 20 per cent revenue
growth and an eight per cent volume growth.
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