BOI’S Wathupitiwela EPZ contributes US $ 25.6mn in export earnings

The Board of Investment’s (BOI) Wathupitiwela Export Processing Zone (WEPZ), located in the North Central Province, is an important industrial area that has contributed US $ 25.6 million in export revenue as at end-march 2018.

The WEPZ is located in the Gampaha District, about 42 km away from Colombo. It was established in 1998 on a land area of 123.17 acres, of which 66.38 acres are industrial land. The infrastructure facilities at the zone include the provision of water, the processing of wastewater and electricity, making it attractive to investors.

The zone’s enterprises have a significant impact on the local economy as they provide employment to 9,689 staff. In addition, the zone creates possibly three times that number of indirect employment opportunities. The zone therefore promotes the government’s objective to develop regional industrialization.

There are currently 17 enterprises in commercial operations at the Wathupitiwela zone involved in the manufacture of apparel, knitting, reconditioning, printing, coconut products, wind surfing kites, candles, marine foods, soya foods and electronic and electrical products.

Amsafe Bridport is one of the prestigious enterprises at the Wathupitiwela EPZ, which manufactures and designs highly engineered textile products for safety and protection. Its portfolio includes airframe restraints and barrier solutions, cargo handling and movement systems and protection for military armed vehicles.

A strong team of nearly 450 employees design and produce cargo restraint equipment for most commercial airlines, airplane and helicopter manufacturers. Amsafe supplies the world’s leading airline manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing. Amsafe was originally established in 2001 in the Wathupitiwela zone and has since been expanded.

Global Sports Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd is another pioneering company established in the WEPZ in manufacturing kites. They produced kites with the highest quality materials using the latest technology and these products are tested according to the most stringent quality standards. These kites are distributed worldwide under industryleading brand names. The Global Sports Lanka workforce of over 300 employees is employed in producing 20,000 kites annually.