NORAD's Matchmaking Program:

Sri Lanka attracts Norwegian investors

by W.T.J.S. Kaviratne - Ambalangoda special cor.

Through NORAD's Matchmaking Program, the latest Norwegian technological skills and expertise are transferred to Sri Lankan companies.

Sri Lankan industries engaged in boat manufacture, leather products, fibre glass products, fishing gear, garments, electronic items and toys through Norwegian Technical Transfer have reached international standards and become popular among customers visiting supermarkets throughout Europe.

During my recent visit to Norway, I met a group of visiting Sri Lankan business partners to Norway and many of their Norwegian counterparts.

Managing Director of CCC Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd., Prema Cooray said that the Matchmaking Program is unmatched as there were 33 trading collaborations and 60 joint business ventures covering the sectors IT, fisheries, bio-energy, furniture, fibre glass manufacture, tea, tourism, boat trailers and engineering.Since its inception, program had mobilised 330 Norwegian SMEs for commercial operations in Sri Lanka.

Efficient marketing by the Norwegian Advance Business Partner, application based support of NORAD, the facilitation of visits to explore markets and the introduction to potential business partners by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) are the key factors for success of the program.

AB Business Partner AS

The responsibility of carrying out the program has been contracted through the private consulting company of AB Business Partner AS of Norway which is the national contact point and has established a regional joint professional consultants network in Norway. This professional network facilitates the identification of companies and the establishment of potential company profiles.

Hobas

The Norwegian lobster farm group Hobas has been well established in Sri Lanka due to the Matchmaking program. Hobas is involved in aquaculture projects and is famous as an innovative supplier with expertise fish and shellfish farming.

Hobas says the program has opened a gateway to Sri Lanka. With A.J. Fishing (Pvt.) Ltd in Sri Lanka Hobas has been engaged in producing a wide range of aquaculture tanks, retention tanks, incubators for larval rearing, drainage systems and highly sophisticated motor boats and fishing gear to international standards.

In 2008, the largest salmon smolt farm in Northern Norway was designed and constructed by Hobas. A.J. Fishing (Pvt) Ltd. affiliated to Hobas, had manufactured all the fibreglass equipment such as fish tanks, biofilters, aerators and drains by Sri Lankan technicians in its factory located at Katunayake Free Trade Zone.

Elatec As Kristiansand

Elatec is a Norwegian company dealing in schools, child daycare centres and municipalities in Norway. Elatec focuses on toys, school supplies and sports items for both indoor and outdoor use.

With the assistance of both NORAD's Matchmaking and its chief collaborator CCC, Elatec AS in Norway has invested in a factory building and machinery. Elatec has already employed more than 50 Sri Lankans in its factory.

Pure Nature, Oslo with the collaboration of the Women's Cooperative Society in Hawapattiya in Moneragala, finds export markets for Sri Lankan fruits in Norway. Pure Nature has been able to gain much from the experience and expertise of Paradise Farm in Kitulgala, Sri Lanka in organising farmers and organic farming, Pure Nature is planning to build a manufacturing factory which could turn fresh fruit into fruit pulp to be packed and exported to Norway and other countries.

Norsk Dekor AS Skiptvet

Norsk Dekor is a company manufacturing Porcelain and Ceramics for the Norwegian market.

Representatives of Norsk Dekora who visited Sri Lanka found Midaya Ceramics Ltd. and has invested 250,000 Kronor and resources in the project in Sri Lanka.

There are several Norwegian companies dealing in the latest technologies on handling issues related to environmental conservation and water purification.

Klaro Systems' technology of recycling was introduced to Sri Lanka.Tore Karlstad the Norwegian representative who visited Sri Lanka recently said that Klaro Systems could prevent ground, drinking water pollution through human waste, sewage drains from household and hotel waste material. Klaro Systems require a very low electric power. Oil residue could be removed out of oil contaminated water using Klaro systems. Sewage purification systems are based on aerobic processes and no chemicals are used in the purification process.

Sri Lankan business partners

CEO of U.S.S. Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd, Palitha Thalangama said that it was a well appreciated effort by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to broaden Sri Lanka's Export market scope.

Managing Director of Heavyfab, J.W. Samaranayake said that it was very easy to develop business with Norwegian companies and he is happy with the Matchmaking Program.

The Executive Director of Tos Lanka Co (Pvt) Ltd., Merrick Gooneratne said that through the program a Sri Lankan electronic manufacturing services provider was given the opportunity of accessing the world's most affluent market in Norway. He further said the success of the product could open up further opportunities for electronic products from Sri Lanka to gain access to the Norwegian market.

Chairman of Grip Nordic (Pvt.) Ltd, Douglas Wijesinghe said that the Sri Lankan technicians were trained at TI Norway.

The Rubber Wood which was used as fire wood in the past was now transformed at the factory to produce best quality products replacing traditional Beech and Birchwood products of similar design originating from Eastern Europe.

The overall objective of the Matchmaking program is to contribute to the establishment of sustainable employment opportunities for both men and women in Sri Lanka and strengthening of existing employment opportunities.