 |
 |
||||||
[September 2002]
5% Year-on-Year Growth Wanted for Sri Lankan Ceramic Industry
The recent Sri Lanka Ceramics Symposium concentrated on key strategic issues in the local and global market arena in relation to traditional ceramics, explored avenues for diversification into advanced ceramics and opportunities for technology transfer and encouraged scientific research connected with the ceramic industry beginning at tertiary level.
In his opening address to the symposium delegates, Secretary at the Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Ranjit Fernando, said: "Sri Lanka has ample raw material and a highly skilled, literate workforce, but we haven't been able to use these strengths to optimise our capabilities.
"It is with this in mind that the Ministry has embarked on mooting Task Forces for 16 industries, including that of the ceramics industry, to move the industry forward. The Task Force has already unveiled its five year plans on developing the industry and forecasts a growth of a minimum 5% year on year, over the medium term, based on new strategies worked out by them."
Sunil Wijesinha, current Chairman of the Ceramics Cluster, said that Sri Lanka was in a good position to re-evaluate future market trends and leverage on key strengths available in the changing stance of the ceramic industry. He also said that there were four strategic initiatives that have been identified to assist the industry, namely promoting design and marketing excellence, improvements in supply chain management, establishment of centres of excellence and policy reforms.
The symposium held under the theme 'Rising Above, to Look Beyond' was organised by the Sri Lanka Ceramics Cluster under the aegis of the USAid-funded Competitiveness Initiative in association with Dankotuwa Porcelain, Lanka Tiles, Lanka Walltile, Midaya Ceramic Co, Paramix, Royal Ceramics Lanka and Royal Fernwood Porcelain.
ENDS