Sri Lankan – Dutch Business Partner Growrite Substrates wins Embassy Award
View(s):Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms. Lilianne Ploumen recently honoured Dutch – Sri Lankan company ‘Growrite Substrates Pvt. Ltd’ – the Sri Lankan joint venture of the Van der Knaap Group, with the prestigious Embassy Award at a large network reception in Ede, The Netherlands.
From left: Sajeewan Lokuge, Wasantha Bandurathne, Leslie De Silva, Sanjaya Gunawardena, Janindha Dunuwille, Jorik Schra, Simon Smits - Vice Minister for Foreign Trade of the Netherlands, Dinesh Fernando - Managing Director Growrite Substrates (Pvt) Ltd, Gerard Van Dieen, Minister for Coconut Development and Janatha State Development -Jagath Pushpakumara, Louis M Piët - Ambassador to The Kingdom of The Netherlands in Sri Lanka, Ron Van Der Knaap – Chairman, Van der Knaap Group, The Netherlands, Mahesh Fernando, Dammika Hewawasam, Mevan Rajeev and H. Hulugalle.
In a follow-up ceremony, and in felicitation of Growrite Substrates, the Netherland Embassy hosted the company to a gala celebration in Colombo in the presence of a distinguished gathering comprising Ministers and leading business figures.
The company said in a media release that this much coveted award is presented each year by the Dutch Ambassadors from around the world to Dutch companies in various countries. Growrite received the 2014 award after being short listed from amongst 54 applicants worldwide. Out of the final three short listed, the other two nominated Dutch companies were from Canada and Kenya.
“Growrite has played a crucial role in strengthening and expanding our economy through increased exports, contributing to country’s GDP and foreign business collaboration, providing employment and help spread local ideas, innovation and values. We are deeply honoured to have received this prestigious Embassy award, which is a result of a fruitful journey we have shared with the Van der Knaap Group, our business partner, and I believe it has been a mutually beneficial venture,” Growrite Managing Director Dinesh Fernando said.
Growrite has been exporting coco peat in bulk to Van der Knaap since 1995.
Presently, the company possesses fully equipped production facilities in Hettipola (Kuliyapitiya) and Wariyapola (Kurunegala) producing high quality coir substrates. These ready-made organic and environment-friendly re-cyclable products are sold and shipped directly to its clients.
Growrite has been serving the coco-based export industry for over 20 years, and over the span of its operation provides direct employment to 800 people and indirectly to approximately 2000 people. The success of its operation has led to the establishment of production facilities in Dominican Republic and India.