The National Construction Association of Sri Lanka is to hold its 11th trade fair from the 19th to 21st August 2011, an event that has so far attracted over 35 foreign companies as participants. The main trust of this year’s fair will be to develop the domestic construction industry. This year’s exhibition will showcase some of the latest products and services available along with the latest state of the art equipment presently used in the industry, officials said.
This year’s ‘Construct 2011’ will see the participation of companies from India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Locally, several new members from the North and East of the country will also be participating.
Speaking to the Business Times, National Construction Association of Sri Lanka, Chairman Priyantha Perera said, after a long period the construction industry is beginning to move forward. Now with the development in the country there is a great demand for construction work.
Also there are now several construction companies that are qualified and capable to bid for large scale projects alongside foreign companies.
The acute shortage of skilled labour and material are two of the major setbacks faced by the industry today. The material shortages such as sand must be sorted by the relevant government department as they have an environmental impact, he said. But as for skilled labour the association has now begun to train people in the trade. At present around 900 persons are being trained by the association.
The main drawback in attracting young people into the industry is not the monetary benefit as there is good earning potential in this trade. It is the lack of the glamour that is keeping the new comers away, he said.
This year’s exhibition will have around 300 local and foreign exhibitors. Among them will be banks and insurance companies. This year’s special attraction will be the ‘Armed Services Construction Pavilion’, which will demonstrate the construction capabilities of the forces. |
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