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[June 2008]
Ceramics Development & Training Institute for Gujranwala
TUSDEC (Technology Upgradation & Skill Development Company) has begun the set-up phase of ADB CFC Programme funded 'Ceramics Development and Training Institute (CDTI)' in Gujranwala in Pakistan. CDTI is designed to help resuscitate the local sanitaryware industry and enable it face competition in international markets. According to a TUSDEC spokesman, the land for this Rs 314 million project has been acquired in village Attawa near Gujranwala, the project team hired and construction is scheduled to start shortly.
The facility being developed under Asian Development Bank's US$12 million SME sector development CFC Programme, will be housed in a Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) and comprise a modern Common Facility Centre (CFC) specialising in sanitaryware but will also include a testing laboratory to help the entire ceramics industry in Pakistan. In addition to CDTI, another three CFCs, i.e. Peshawar Engineering Support Centre (PESC), Hyderabad Engineering Support Centre (HESC) and Quetta Engineering Support Centre (QESC) are to be set up under the ADB programme.
The CDTI will house modern equipment and machinery to be used by the local sanitaryware cluster as a Common Facility to help it adopt modern technologies and upgrade their productivity and quality. It will also house facilities to provide training and exposure to contemporary technology through hands-on experience.
The facility, after becoming operational, would not only help increase Pakistan's sanitaryware exports but would also help local products compete with imports pouring in from various countries of the region, commented TUSDEC.
TUSDEC is planning further initiatives in tableware, industrial ceramics and refractories with an ultimate objective to revive production in these segments while being cost effective and internationally competitive.
www.tusdec.org.pk
ENDS