Sri Lanka's packaging industry needs R&D boost - Minister Bathiudeen

The value of our packaging industry is over $ 1.5 billion and research and development is a key concern for the sector, said Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen.

The Minister was chief guest at the Star Awards 2010 organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging (SLIP) held in Colombo recently.

"There are some concerns in certain areas of this industry such as product designing and diversification.

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen

Most important among them is research and development. For example, there is no proper material available to substitute Tetra Pack - the aseptic packaging material. If we have sufficient research and development facilities, we can easily overcome this.

I encourage the packaging industry to invest more on research and development so that our packaging can serve international competitive needs. The government will be happy to support such programs" he said.

"Packaging is what differentiates the product and draws the consumer's attention.

It has become as important as the product itself. This has led packaging to take the lead in the growth of certain industries.

Also the emerging supermarket trend has made packaging the key driver of sales.

We have taken steps to provide a fully-fledged packaging development centre - a much-needed facility for which the ministry has submitted a proposal to the Department of External Resources for funding. The ministry also organises training programs at international packaging institutes such as the India Institute of Packaging and Thai Institute of Packaging.

In addition, the ministry provides many concessions for the importation of specialised packaging materials and encourages export of value added high quality materials."

The Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging conducts the Lanka Star Awards competition annually to stimulate interest in improving packaging standards in Sri Lanka.

Locally produced packaging materials, consumer packages and transport packages of outstanding quality are selected by a panel of experts for the award of Gold, Silver and Bronze Stars.