Abandoned industries in NE to be resurrected

by Gamini WARUSHAMANA

All large and medium scale industries in the North and East will recommence within the next few years, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen told the Sunday Observer.

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen Pic Sudath Malaweera

There were several large scale industries such as the cement plant at KKS, paper mill in Valachchenai, sugar factories in Hingurana and Kantale.

They are totally abandoned or are running at under capacity for the past three decades he said.

In the post war rehabilitation of the North and East, industrial development of the region is a main concern of the Government.

The Government is planning to set up several industrial zones in the region and the Ministry of Economic development and the BOI will come up with special incentive packages for investment promotion in the war affected areas, he said. Unemployment in the North and East provinces is high and the agricultural sector alone cannot address the issue.

The conflict has seriously affected the lives of the people and there are social issues. There are over 60,000 widows and over 10,000 rehabilitated former LTTE cadres.

In addition to mineral and other resources the main asset human resources must be given priority. Industries should go to these regions, the minister said.

The Government has a target to increase the country's export revenue in a sustainable manner. Our objective is to increase export revenue to US$ 20 billion in 2020. It is US$8 billion today.

To achieve the target we should increase our export revenue by 8% annually.

The Government has a well focused plan and recognised sub sectors that have growth potential.

Finding new markets is an important aspect in this program. We work closely with exporters and business chambers and there are several consultative committees which support us, he said.

Commenting on GSP+ issue; the minister said that his ministry will support the apparel industry to maintain their competitiveness in the EU market without GSP+ concessions.

"Our objective is to maintain exports to EU market at the same level", he said.

He said that the Government will not agree to any clause in CEPA that will harm the local industries. CEPA is a long process and we are working on it for the last six years.

We are closely working with local industrialists and the final CEPA agreement will be beneficial to the country he said.