A leading local manufacturer, the Macky Group of Companies exported garments worth Rs.300 million to the Russian Federation recently. This export was a result of a visit made to that country by Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food, Kingsley T Wickramaratna.
A senior manager of the company said that a recurring annual order totalling upto Rs. 650 million will be forthcoming for the supply of clothing items such as dresses, skirts, shorts, overalls and jumpers.
“This will provide additional employment to 1000”, he added. The company currently provides gainful employment to over 4,150 youth operating at least six export-oriented garment factories both in Colombo and in the rural areas.
“It is due to the efforts of Minister Kingsley T Wickramaratna and the impetus provided by the Export Development Board, the Board of Investment and the Bank, that the company ventured into this hitherto unknown market”, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Macky group of Companies, M Rushdi Uvais said.
Minister Wickramratna speaking at this ceremony said that the initial contact he had with Russian businessmen, during his visit to Russia last year confirmed his confidence of an early entry into the Russian market. “Speed and quality will determine the winners of the wide world’s trade competition, and my ambition is to see that every import would be matched by at least an equal or an enhanced amount of export”, the minister added.
“The quota system and the Multi Fibre Agreement will soon be a thing of the past”, Sylvester Saldanha, a specialist designer said. Consequently it is only through quality production that Sri Lanka would be able to survive in the world’s apparel market, he added.
Deputy Media Minister Alavi Moulana and export executive of Macky’s, Sivakumar, also spoke. Also present were former speaker MH Mohammed, the principal buyer Mrs. Rita Ku, Director Dubai Bank Hussain Saeed Al Loota and a large number of the company’s employees.
