Lanka’s first Handloom taskforce completes first year
View(s):Sri Lanka’s Handloom Taskforce, a unit set up to revive the sector and to promote Ceylon Handlooms brand globally, has completed its first year with many achievements.
“In just one year of its operations and using less than $70,000, the taskforce has successfully hit multiple targets, specifically, expanding the much needed private sector involvement for which I commend it,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka, speaking to his top officials after he was briefed in-depth by the taskforce recently.
This taskforce aims to revive the sector with public private partnership, upgrade it and promote the Ceylon Handlooms global brand. The Export Development Board has set a handloom export target of $2.24 million by 2015.
The taskforce progress review was attended by officials and stakeholders including Anura Siriwardene (Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce), Anil Koswatta (Chairman and CEO, Laksala), observer-invitee German design consultant Peter Katz, Lankan born, German-based Ceylon Handloom promoter Hema Steinfatt, Yousuf Marikkar (acting Chairman EDB), ministerial and regional textile directors and advisors, EDB officials and university academia.
Observer-invitee to 13 February session, German design consultant Peter Katz praised the wide ranging scope given to the taskforce and thereafter went on to share his own industry experience. “We should also focus on overall packaging in addition to design elements,” Mr. Katz said. “Ceylon Handloom’s reputation in foreign markets is not dependent on branding alone but it is a function of many factors-the quality, reliability, cost and most importantly, proper presentation,” Mr. Katz added.
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