Logilink to support apparel exports to EU under GSP+

The Hayleys Group further strengthened its presence in supporting the regional logistics requirements of the International Apparel Industry by commissioning ‘Logilink’, the newest accolade to the portfolio of investments under its Transportation Arm, Hayleys Advantis Ltd.

The facility was opened by the Chief Guest Michel Lummaux - Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives recently amidst a gathering of a prominent cross section of persons representing the Apparel Exports Industry (Direct Exporters and Representatives of Buying Offices), The JAAF (Joint Apparel Association Forum), Representatives of International Consolidators and key officials from the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. Logilink at the Welisara Industrial complex is built on 42,000 square feet of covered warehouse space with 10 container loading bays and a one-acre yard.

It is designed and equipped to comply with the USA’s rigorous C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) and the European TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association) safety requirements for cargo.

The facility is targeted primarily at supporting the needs of all stakeholders who patronise and support the country’s apparel manufacturing sector.

The customs bond in operation at Logilink would facilitate the clearing and deconsolidation of raw material such as fabric, interlining, yarn and accessories such as buttons and zippers.

The Container Freight Station (CFS) in operation within the same facility would handle all consolidation requirements of exporters out of Sri Lanka. Michel Lummaux commended such investments as imperative to boost the competitiveness of the apparel industry of Sri Lanka.

He stressed the importance further as a ‘need of the hour’ especially at a time when the apparel industry of Sri Lanka is poised at an important juncture where intense and continuous lobbying is done by the Government together with the Joint Apparel Association Forum which represents a cross section of the stake holders of the apparel industry of the country to the European Union with the expectation of receiving an extension of the benefits accorded to the Apparel Industry under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP plus) facility for another three years from January 2009.

The GSP plus concession enables Sri Lanka to export its goods and products to the European Union at reduced or exempted tax and duty levies and would have a direct impact on the future of the Apparel Industry and over 100,000 workers’ lives.