Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) will set up a Garment Park in Eravur, in the Batticaloa District with the aim of producing raw materials for the Apparel industry.
BOI Director General Sanjaya Mohottala said that with the Covid epidemic, the raw materials needed for the garment production could not be imported.
“This was due to the lock down/closure of raw material exporting countries and Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has been badly hit.”
Mohottala added that the proposed Park is expected to produce artificial and natural textile and other raw materials needed for the garment industry.
Sri Lanka’s annual export earnings are US $ 12 billion out of which US $ 5.7 billion comes from apparel exports. Over 300 garment factories employ over 300,000 workers while another one million people in the garment industry earn livelihoods through indirect employment.
The global Covid catastrophe has had a major negative impact on the local garment industry. “Sri Lanka produces high cost garments and due economic constrains in the face of the Covid crises, today People are reluctant to buy these expensive items.
Mohottala added that local manufactures should understand the situation and focus on alternative products.
Given the prevailing situation, the country has been able to secure a large number of orders for the manufacture of personal protective tools. These are made in 33 factories. “The total number of orders received so far these products are over US$ 500 million. This is expected to reach US$ 1 billion in the future. This is the way forward.”
Mohottala says this will be an opportunity for the garment industry to thrive through the current crisis.
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