It is right to say 2020 was a
year of
Change for Foundry industry and
a favorable year for higher value added exports, and a display of innovative
Foundry skills for Sri Lankan manufacturing industry with the eminent support
of Ministry of Industries, Export development Board and Industrial Development
Board
FDSI in 2020, the word would be ‘change’
it was a big year of promised transformation to value added exports with the
stopping of exports of metal scrap used in foundry industry with different arrangements.
In preparation for this transformation FDSI worked to develop a Series 4 online
workshops to enhance knowledge on materials used in Aluminum and Brass
industry, resulting a growth of local foundry and extrusion industry with the
identification of more materials for valued addition
FDSI proposed the development of new value addition formula to
measure the value addition of local industries to support the industries doing
higher value addition with the ministry of industries. The standards
development for water pumps and cook and bake ware are still been developed in
a snails speed at the Sri Lanka standards institution due to want of resources
and other priorities.
Six months minimum warrantee was
proposed FDSI to the Presidential Industry forum through ministry of industry
metal sector which was accepted at the 1st meeting is yet to
overcome trade barriers for implementation. The ban on copper 3mm wire has
curtailed the regulated value added exports but there is no evidence to prove
that this copper is now used in the country. However the copper price in the
market has doubled indicating that the material is leaking to overseas market in
tons per month without any revenue to the country.
FDSI continue to participate in skills development and completed a
curriculum for foundry technicians with the industry members with the
sponsorship of MESSCO and TVEC. The program of training 100 technicians on line
will soon to be realized with its member industries participation and now
industries can apply for training of their staff for a valid NVQ Certificate. FDSI
continued to transfer knowledge for modernization of the foundry industry and
metal industry with Export Development Board. Some of the members made use of
this Grant given by the EDB to add value to their products. EDB continued to
support in development of Aluminum die cast industry for further value
addition.
The impact of Covid-19 and scarcity of FOREX in the country has hit
the small and medium foundry operation due to scarcity of foundry coke and
other chemicals. The government efforts to sustain the industry are not taken
as a priority by the banks.
Throughout, at FDSI the council continued commitment to improve levels
of service to Stake holder in small and medium foundries. The noticeable indicators
are the results of our achievement of export targets in the Engineering sector
and the growth of local raw material usage in foundry and extrusion industry.
Member support will be a key priority in 2021, with the Board focused
on assessing future industry wants to ensure a technical workforce to run its
machinery for higher value added products. This is built on continued support
of Directors, Private members, industries, FDSI customers and funders. Our
future sustainability, as always, depends on these strong partnerships. The Successive
development of leadership to co-chair for the institute is the need of the day.
I thank from the bottom of my heart for the 10 board Directors and 3 ex-officio
Directors consultants for spending their valuable time with FDSI and hope to
see a change to a 3G foundry industry
soon.
For Council
Melvin Samarasinghe
12th Oct 2021