A National Level Task-Force (NLTF) has been formed for the development of the handloom sector and to prepare a viable business model for it on a high priority basis. “The Taskforce I am setting up today is a national level effort and will infuse the Private Public Partnership model to this sector. It will give value and professional structure to it. It will also lead to a centralised National Handloom Coordinating Centre, create the essential roadmap for the development of this promising sector and will promptly begin to implement its targets starting from mid-January 2012,” announced Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka, at a recent meeting.
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| Picture shows Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka (left) making a point to Ms Haoua Cheick, USAID/VEGA Expert. Ms Himali Jinadasa, Advisor to the Minister of Industry and Commerce and Convenor of the Sri Lanka Peace Collection project is seen in the background. |
He was addressing the first meeting of the new Task-force at the Ministry office where representatives from the USAID, National Entrepreneurs Development Authority (NEDA), University of Moratuwa, Export Development Board, Department of Textiles, Sri Lanka Institute of Textile & Apparel, joined together to map out the future direction of the promising Sri Lankan handloom sector.
“The overall objective of the Taskforce is to identify the challenges and issues of the $13 million handloom industry in Sri Lanka and propose an appropriate business model for sustainable development,” the minister said.
He said they would also begin to form District Level Handloom Coordinating Centres (DLHCC) very soon. These DLHCCs will bring in the much needed structure to the industry and will facilitate buyer - seller meets, design and development of products, giving weavers exposure to competitor’s products, and helping the designers to innovate. The DLHCCs will be coordinated by the centralised National Handloom Coordinating Centre (NHCC) to be located at Katubedda under the Department of Textiles.
The Task-force will review its progress in the first week of January 2012 and will begin implementing the initial recommendations before the end of January itself. Among the tasks the Task-force will initially begin are combining the micro and SME segmentsof the handlooms industry, developing the Design Centre at Moratuwa towards a Centre of Excellence level, initiate and mediate negotiations between the weavers and the private sector buyers through organising effective buyer seller meetings, bringing in new innovations especially in design and development, work towards diversification of the basket of looms.
Ms Haoua Cheick, the USAID/VEGA Expert who is currently on her second assignment in Sri Lanka, said: “This is wonderful. This is what the Sri Lankan handlooms sector really needs. This was in fact one of my initial recommendations when I first came to Sri Lanka in August this year. Another supporting Task-force is also needed to be formulated but as of this moment it is a major step since it brings in value and the professional structure to the industry. Weaving has always been traditional practice therefore it is very important that you revive it for its very continuity.” |
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