The Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA), with assistance from the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL), is urging the Board of Investment (BOI) to expedite formalities for setting up a dedicated textile processing zone. A request for allotment of 200 acres has been made to set up the zone, according to SLAEA chairman Rehan Lakhany. Sri Lanka is an ideal model for speed-to-market given its strategic geographical location and customers are looking at the country for reliability, quality and quick response, for which a dedicated textile facility is needed, a report in top Sri Lankan daily quoted him as saying. Noting that the GSP+ scheme encouraged increased value addition within Sri Lanka, he said it thereby promoted backward integration, resulting in the setting up of new industries and creating new employment opportunities in the country. The proposed textile zone could have factories on woven manufacturing, knitted manufacturing, dyeing and finishing.
