Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, met at his Ministry the representatives of six companies which have expressed interest in starting operations at the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone.
The Minister was assisted by Nalin Bandara, Deputy Minister Development Strategies and International Trade, Mangala Yapa, Chairman Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Champika Malalgoda, Director General and senior officials of the BOI. The objective of the meeting was to facilitate in starting their operations,the enterprises which have committed or shown interest to invest at the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone. The companies included Vofone Development (Pvt) ltd., (Processing fruits for export-Chinese investment), Synergy Pharmaceutical Corporation (Pvt) Ltd (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant - Sri Lanka Investment), Empire Feed Mills Pvt Ltd - (Feed mill to supply animal feed to local market - Sri Lanka / Malaysia investment), Sanmic Food Pvt Ltd (Coconut Cream and milk for export-Sri Lanka investment) T S Global (Pvt) Ltd (Manufacture of PE Polythene) water pipes for export market - South Korea/Sri Lanka Investment), Brandix Lanka Ltd (Apparel Manufacturing - Sri Lanka Investment).
The estimated total value of these investments will be US$ 63.69 million. At the meeting the different matters relating to the establishment and future operations of these companies were addressed. The Ministry and BOI were able to resolve bottlenecks that may delay the future operation of these companies.
Ishan Jiffry, Factory Manager of Vofone Development Company stated “the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone has given our enterprise an opportunity to expand our business and it is therefore important that every effort is made to ensure that infrastructure at the Zone is rapidly developed. Bingirya is a well-planned Zone and setting up our factory there will be an advantageous proposition for our company.” Another investor Kim Tae Geun President of TS Global Lanka Limited, from South Korea added “The manufacture of large PE pipes in Sri Lanka is essential for the country as these products need to meet the highest international standard. It is therefore our company’s objective to make high quality pipes in Sri Lanka at the Bingiriya EPZ. We are a private company which will invest US$ 3.9 million in the Bingiriya Plant. We will be employing 40 workers but plan to expand our operations in the future.” Kim added “Bingiriya was selected because of the availability of land and we will be using 6 acres of the Zone to build a highly automated manufacturing plant.
We expect that it will take 6 months to finalize the full production capability at the Zone. We will be also looking at exporting our production in the future. I am also confident that with every new development evolving in a positive way we can develop a new range of products in Sri Lanka such as pipes but also buildings and other projects.”
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had stated at an earlier meeting held in Kurunegala, that the EPZ in Bingiriya will drive growth for the country on a long term and sustainable basis and will be beneficial for generations to come.
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