Challenge for construction industry in IDP resettlement

With the task of rebuilding damaged infrastructure, construction of community infrastructure for settlement of IDP's and infrastructure development to facilitate Foreign Direct Investment, in the Northern and Eastern region the Construction Industry will have a huge challenge ahead, Chief Guest at the launch of `Excon 2009' at Galadari Hotel on May 29 Minister of Construction and Engineering Services Dr. Rajitha Senaratne MP said.

He said:`As the Minister in charge of Construction, it is my privilege to provide patronage for today's event. Chamber of Construction Industry represents every stakeholder of the domestic construction industry including multidisciplinary consultants and professional service providers, constructors and all credible vendors and manufacturers of construction inputs.

'With the Chamber also being identified as the focal point for promotion of exports of construction related professional services I am more than pleased to launch "Excon 2009" as Sri Lanka's first ever International Construction Exposition. I am happy to note that Chamber has received the fullest support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote foreign participants with the assistance of Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad.

Foreign relations division

'Chamber has recently set up a Foreign relations division headed by a retired career diplomat to promote networking with the diplomatic community in Colombo as well as Sri Lankan missions.

Apart from promoting exports of construction related services from Sri Lanka Chamber in association with its corporate member, Board of Investment will promote Foreign Direct Investment in infrastructure development. A number of seminars and workshops are being organized as concurrent events to provide participants, particularly foreign delegates with all the information they require as regards both investment opportunities and capacities of the domestic construction industry.

'I also note that the Chamber will launch a new product - Construction Digest - a quarterly magazine as another initiative to create a knowledge based construction sector. The CCI has been publishing a monthly bulletin - CCI Bulletin - which has been a most sought after newsletter. With the high standard of journalism demonstrated in the CCI bulletin, I have no doubt that the Construction Digest will also be of high quality comparable to the best of such publications.

'You have also witnessed today the release of the "Construction Industry Trade Catalogue 2008" which was first published in the year 2006 fulfilling a longfelt need of the domestic construction industry.

'Having associated myself very closely with the Chamber during the last two to three years I commend the Chamber for the tremendous services they have rendered to all sectors of the domestic construction industry by launching a number of initiatives all of which have and will contribute to the task of enhancing capacities and competitiveness of the construction industry.

'The Chamber is the largest provider of training in construction crafts having trained over 1000 craftsmen in the year 2008 in terms of NVQ Level III qualifications. I am aware that the Chamber is in the process of setting up five construction training centres in the Batticoloa district with the assistance of the Government of Germany.

Training centres

'I am also aware that the Chamber is proposing to establish construction craftsmen training centres in the Northern region.

'While I thank you very much for inviting me to be the Chief Guest on this occasion and provide me with a few surprises.

'I assure you of the fullest cooperation, assistance and support of my Ministry to make `Excon 2009' a truly international exhibition.

'I appeal to all stakeholders of the domestic construction industry in Sri Lanka drawn from both public and private sectors to render their patronage and assistance to this mega event.

'This requires adoption of cost effective technologies, employment of a trained skilled workforce and effective management at both project and entrepreneur levels, all of which are subject within the scope of the CCI.

'Therefore, CCI has a specific role to play in the development endeavour and could be the ideal forum not only to promote linkages between disciplines but also public private partnerships.

'The Chamber of Construction Industry represents every stakeholder of the domestic construction industry including multidisciplinary consultants and professional service providers, constructors and all credible vendors and manufacturers of construction inputs drawn from both public and private sectors.

Foreign direct investment

'With the Chamber being identified as the focal point for promotion of exports of construction related professional services "Excon 2009" is repositioned as Sri Lanka's first ever International Construction Exposition. Excon 2009' will also be the platform to promote foreign direct investment in infrastructure development, an exercise the Chamber will undertake in collaboration with its corporate member Board of Investment.The Ministry of Export Development and International Trade which has recognized the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka as the focal point for promotion of export of construction related professional services and contracting capacities from Sri Lanka has assured the support of the Department of Commerce and Sri Lanka Export Development Board to provide collaborative arrangements and expertise to the Chamber to make the event a truly international one'.