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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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Local construction companies win A-9 work tenders by Elmo Leonard Seven local road construction organisations have clinched eight packages to develop the A-9 highway between Jaffna and Killinochchi, while foreign contractors were kept out of the bidding for the project. The work, estimated to cost Rs 700 million, is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The contract for the work was signed in Killinochchi recently. One of the signatories was the State-run Road Construction and Development Company, which won a tender. Addressing a media conference, Chairman, SAARC Construction Industry Council and CEO, Construction Guarantee Fund, Eddie de Zylva said foreign constractors were kept out, due to the locals effectively negotiating with the resident ADB mission. De Zylva said that local negotiators had previously accepted whatever conditions that were stipulated by the lending agencies, World Bank and ADB, which resulted in foreign contractors clinching the lion's share of the work. This was a drain on the local economy while the local construction industry suffered. "We adopted the third procedure for bidding, where one is allowed to specify that the bidding contractors be members of local construction organisations. In this case, we stated that bidders should be members of the Institute for Construction Training and Development and National Contractors Association of Sri Lanka. This kept the foreign bidders out," De Zylva said. Meanwhile, a South Asian Congress pertaining to the construction industry of the region will be held between August and October this year. It is organised by the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL). The theme of the congress would be 'South Asia in the year 2020 - Development Perspective', CCISL President S.Wickremasinghe said. This theme was chosen because most South Asian construction industries faced similar problems. If the construction industry of the region is to become competitive with the rest of Asia and the world, the industry in South Asia, as a zone, should develop, using the latest innovations available to the industry, including IT as a vehicle, Wickremasinghe told the media. Minister of Foreign Affairs Tyronne Fernando and Minister of Western Region Development M.H. Mohamed had underscored their commitment to make the event a success. Singapore and Malaysia had made great strides in the development of their construction industries. Hence, the Chamber plans to invite Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed to deliver the keynote speech. |
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