By Ifham Nizam

Industries must become more competitive if they are to succeed in the global market and thereby enhance their contribution to Sri Lanka’s economy, said Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion and Industrial Policy Minister Professor G. L. Peiris.

Peiris was the chief guest at a workshop on leather, footwear and ceramics held at the BMICH recently. He added: "The complexities of globalisation and dependence on external economies prompts us to rethink our strategies and approaches". If industries work together as a team appreciating each other’s perceptive and needs arriving at a consensus on strategies and policies, industries can forge ahead with much success.

With innovation, creativity, technology, human resources development, flexibility and an open transparent government, higher value products and services can be created. Footwear Industry "Task Force" Chairman D. C. Nathaniel said with a gradual shift in global shoe manufacture from developed to a developing market economies, the main benefactor in the process has been Asia, increasing its production share from 40% to 70% in the last two decades.

He added: "Although the footwear industry in Sri Lanka grew from USD 27m to USD 70m from 1993 to 1997, over the last few years it decreased to USD 33m in 2001". The "Task Force" proposals include enhanced financing facilities for enterprises, introduction of investor friendly labour regulations, amendment of holiday patterns and inclusion of footwear in the proposed Free Trade Agreement with the US.