Chinese market for local products

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The Rural Affairs Ministry has signed a bilateral trade agreement with the Chinese Government to promote marketing opportunities for local products such as handlooms, Rural Affairs Senior Minister Athaudha Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer.

He said that a handloom village would be set up in Ruwanwella soon with assistance from the Commerce and Industries Ministry. Attention will also be paid to produce palayakat sarongs in the village and export them.

The Senior Minister said that the handloom industry came to a halt due to difficulties of procuring and the competitive environment caused by the import of Indian sarongs. The time is now ripe to improve handlooms and other traditional industries, he said.

The Minister said that cottage industries are functional today under the Provincial Councils and coordinated by the Economic Development Ministry and other Ministries.

More rural or traditional industries will be set up across the country using the resources in the areas, he said.

The technical know-how and availability of raw materials will be considered when setting up an particular industry.

Certain villages are famous for brassworks, Minister Seneviratne said.

The Rural Affairs Ministry will train those who run small-scale industries on design and fashion work, he said.