FTZMA hosts top officials, diplomats in glamorous Members’ Eve
A glamorous Members’ Eve at (‘Boat’) 8 Degrees on the Lake at Cinnamon Lakeside on October 24, 2019, saw CEOS of member companies of the Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) host top BOI officials and foreign diplomats in celebration of their success story.
The gathering was organised by the Executive Committee of FTZMA in appreciation of the service and dedication of the members towards the improvement of the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and to show solidarity of all BOI investors housed in all the zones islandwide, which has played a major role in developing the economy of Sri Lanka over four decades.
FTZMA is the core association or the main trade chamber of foreign direct investors that pioneered activities of the main Industrial Zone in Katunayake.
The association concentrates not only on production and exports of finished goods of the member companies, but it does contribute to the uplifting of overall activities including infrastructure by closely working with all stakeholders, especially with BOI, the main service provider, towards the success of the zone which had developed to the present status.
FTZMA Chairman Jatinder Biala said: “It gives us pleasure as a whole to appreciate the service and commitments extended by all stakeholders towards the achievements reached and to strengthen our ties in this fellowship which is held almost every year.”
“This gathering is also to highlight the public at large irrespective of who governs the country to convey that we carry on this uninterrupted service that benefits our country immensely and needs encouragement by the governing authorities to facilitate in the promotion of foreign direct investment. In the midst of many hurdles and with many risks involved, the appreciative investors continue in their commitment towards strengthening our economy also solving the unemployment problems to a great extent also by imparting knowledge in latest technology, improving labour skills of our country,” Biala said.
“May this gathering be an eyeopener to those in office in the promotion of trade and development of our country for the inflow of greater revenue,” he added.
KEPZ, which was established forty years ago, is the first and by far the biggest in extent, employees and the number of enterprises among all the BOI industrial zones in the country. The zone houses more than 74 manufacturing enterprise inside the zone for normal exports plus hub operations. Apart from that, there are more than 90 enterprises outside the zone which are serviced by the KEPZ.
The KEPZ is a very important economic hub for the economy of the country as it brings in a sizable portion of direct foreign income and also foreign investments contributing to the growth of GDP of the nation.
There have been several other zones set up in the country using Katunayake as a model and this certainly is a credit to the KEPZ and the association is proud of the same. The members of FTZMA negotiate with all stakeholders and hold frequent meetings with various statutory bodies doing their part for the continuous improvement of service by looking into shortcomings and it strives hard to comfort employees and ensure enhance quality service rendered by various institutions.