News
ADB funds for Northeast rehabilitation
Foam true to Form
Harcourts gets enjoining order vacated
Grey to consolidate Sri Lanka operations
RCU's Affinity cards
Schenker, P&O Nedlloyd in partnership
Chicken meat and eggs accepted by all Sri Lankans
Emirates goes on-line
GSK-CX reviews its talent inventory
ITI's 50-day progress
TMC draws cream of SL's business community
HSBC's cash conference
Tea Board in Moscow
French mission
Central's two new directors
NGO applies for ownership of British "Chip"
Delmege outsources brand management to MTI
Standards and labour law reforms
NDB in Anuradhapura
Workshop on employee counselling
Curtin's BBA on offer
Managing tea, rubber & coconut plantations
ADB funds for Northeast rehabilitation
The Asian Development Bank will strongly support efforts to rehabilitate
the north and east once the fighting is over and has already committed
some funds to re-build the region, visiting ADB president Tadao Chino said.
"The ADB, in co-operation with Sri Lanka's other development partners,
will support post-conflict rehabilitation of the north and east," he said
at a ceremony to mark the opening of the ADB's new office in Sri Lanka
on Tuesday.
"We are exploring how we can respond quickly to the evolving peace process,
possibly by re-allocating some funds from ongoing projects in other areas,"
he said.
As the peace process develops, the ADB will assess the feasibility and
timing of a larger rehabilitation programme, he said. A community restoration
and development project approved by the bank last October was now being
implemented. "We are also preparing new projects for domestic water supply
and community development in the east," he added.
The ADB, which has supported more than 100 projects in the island with
a total of $2.7 billion in aid, was pleased with the "sound progress" being
made in the peace process and that "much needed economic reforms are back
on the agenda," Chino said.
ADB lending has covered projects in agriculture, health, education,
transport, the urban sector, and private sector development. On Friday,
Chino and Finance Minister K.N. Choksy signed a new agreement under which
there would be greater focus on poverty reduction in future ADB lending
to the government.
The Poverty Reduction Partnership Agreement provides a long-term framework
for programmes that would help reduce poverty. It does not cover funding.
Chino earlier visited ADB project sites in Vavuniya, Dimbulagala and Nuwara
Eliya. In Vavuniya he looked at work being done under the northeast community
restoration and development project, visiting a welfare centre, school
and hospital.
In Dimbulagala, Chino visited a small entrepreneurial establishment
which received assistance under the north-central rural development project,
and in Nuwara Eliya, Pedro estate to assess work on improving worker housing
under the plantations reforms project through which ADB funds are channelled
to regional plantations companies.
Foam true to Form
McBolon, from the McLarens group, has became the first Polymer Extrusion
manufacturer to obtain the ISO 9002 certificate presented by the international
organization for standardization, the company said.
Being a pioneer in the launch of foam and related value added products
under the brand names McFoam, McFoil and McWrap, the company has laid emphasis
on quality improvement. "The ISO 8002 certificate is an important step
in that direction," the statement said.
Harcourts gets enjoining order vacated
An enjoining order on trademark infringement filed against Harcourts (Pvt)
Ltd by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories of India was vacated by the Commercial
High Court of Colombo, the Sri Lankan company said.
The case was regarding GLA -100 marketed by Harcourts and manufactured
by TGI Australia. Harcourts was the first company to market GLA in Sri
Lanka way back in 1995. At that time the product was being manufactured
by American Remedies of India and subsequent to the takeover of American
Remedies by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, the trade mark right was claimed
by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.
Grey to consolidate Sri Lanka operations
Grey Worldwide, the advertising giant, is consolidating its interests in
Sri Lanka.
"The global group decided to flex its muscle by showing its seriousness
and commitment to its Lanka operations," a Grey statement said.
Grey Worldwide is the number one agency in the US and has a global presence
of more than 10,000 employees spread over 92 countries with 450 offices.
It is the 6th largest agency across the world and the largest independent
communications company in the world.
The agency set up operations in Sri Lanka six years ago, as the first
Board of Investment approved advertising venture with a three-way partnership
between Grey Advertising, Trikaya (India) and the local partner First Serve
Entertainment. Hence the name Trikaya Grey First Serve.
Initial accounts comprised CTC followed by Proctor & Gamble. In
time the agency also picked up other MNC business like Glaxo SmithKline,
Holiday Inn, Standard Chartered & Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank
& Celltel.
Grey's commitment to Sri Lanka has been demonstrated by a substantial
increase in investment. Grey has invested heavily in automation, software
and IT, all with the intention of streamlining operations and improving
efficiency with the single-minded aim of providing their clients the best
solutions with no compromises on quality or service.
With the intention of improving overall industry standards as well as
providing new employment opportunities for local talent. The agency will
also be going on a recruitment drive to hire the best available local talent.
As a gesture of goodwill since becoming Grey Worldwide in Sri Lanka,
the agency has decided to donate a "fair sum" toward the welfare of the
war-affected people of the country, the agency said. |
