Toymakers to manufacture educational toys in Puttalam District

A new BOI enterprise Toymakers Pvt Ltd, formally opened a factory at Unawaliwatta, in Madurankuliya, Puttalam. This project comes under the BOI's 300 Enterprises Programme, a special scheme of the Board that awards additional incentives to those investors who take the bold step of starting projects in any one of the 300 divisional secretariats outside the Western Province.

Attending the opening were Arnold Fehm, Chairman of Fehm GMBH and Toymakers (Pvt) Ltd, Arnold Hilmar Fehm, Managing Director of Toymakers, and Neil Fernando, General Manager of Toymakers. Representing the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka at the opening were Dhammika Perera, Chairman /Director General of the BOI and A.M.C Kulasekera Deputy Director General (Investment and Promotion).

The purpose of the programme, which is part of the Mahinda Chintana is to create a more equitable society through the economic empowerment of the masses. This is achieved by bringing the benefits of investment to populations living in the outlying areas rather than forcing them to move to where the opportunities are located.

In the location of their factory, Toymakers, opted for one of the most 'difficult areas' of the programme, where infrastructure is rudimentary and conditions less conducive for investment. Hence the 350 jobs that will ultimately be created by the company will be very significant for the people of Mandurankuliya.

The parent company Fehm GMBH originates from Germany a major investor to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has always enjoyed friendly relations with Germany. Germany has traditionally been one of Sri Lanka's closest economic partners.

As the investment climate in Sri Lanka has improved, more investments are likely. In addition, the current global economic recession shows signs of ending.