Sri Lankan manufacturers are at an advantage because it is well known internationally that the conditions of the workers here are among the ‘better-looked after’ of the emerging countries that produce garments, a top foreign diplomat said.
Speaking at the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) AGM held in Colombo recently, Netherlands Ambassador Leoni Cuelenaere, said “People now want to know more about how the things they bought have been manufactured. It gives so much of a better advantage to Sri Lankan manufacturers when it is known that the conditions of the workers here are among the better looked after of the emerging countries that produce garments.” She said the Sri Lankan concept of ‘garments without guilt’ is fast catching on and it gives the manufacturers here, not only a better opportunity to sell their garments to the EU but also to demand a better price than that offered by other countries who have yet not adopted these systems.
Immediate past chairman of the SLAEA, Kumar Mirchandani said that the industry survived even under the most trying circumstances and progressed due to the innovation, collaboration and relationships it had created. It contributes over $100 million per month directly to the economy of the country. This amount is not taking into account the indirect amount paid for services. He said with this situation the industry needs to provide a support system for the SMEs. As the country’s largest employment generating sector, the government to restructure its’ tax policies and provide this sector with proper logistic facilities.
New SLAEA Chairman Rohan Abeykoon said to sustain this industry with the progress it has achieved so far and also to grow, it needs a clearer tax regime, realistic exchange rate, proper physical support system and improved multilateral and bilateral trade .
He said it is of vital importance that the 5-year comprehensive action plan the industry has been lobbying for, is implemented to capture emerging business opportunities.
The industry needs to focus on an integrated holistic approach for price negotiation, reduction of costs and human resource management to derive the full benefits from the global demand, he said. |
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