Free Trade Zones for Trinco, Kilinochchi

Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, yesterday said that Free Trade Zones will be inaugurated in the Trincomalee and Kilinochchi districts under the ‘Negenahira Navodaya’ and ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programmes.

He was speaking at the ceremony where an agreement was signed between the Board of Investment and APS Knitters (PVT) Ltd., to establish a fully fledged T-shirt factory here.

Entrepreneurs in the UAE had already expressed willingness to construct agri based factories in the North and the East, he said.

The Chairperson APS Knitters Ltd., Deepani Amarasinghe said "Our company commenced operations in 1983 as a BoI approved project and was engaged in importing thread from other countries to manufacture clothing and for export."

The company provided employment to 50 persons at the beginning and now there are 250, she said.

APS Knitters export finished products to five countries including Australia. It supplies the local market as well, Amarasinghe said.

"We have launched two factories in Mattakkuliya and Maharagama with an investment of US$ 3 million producing high quality products obtaining ISO certification," she said.

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