Sri Lanka Stages Boat Show 2010. 24th to 26th April 2010 Event Brings Together Buyers, Manufacturers and Industry Experts

23rd March 2010, www.news.lk

Boat Show 2010 - 24th to 26th April 2010 at BMICH, Colombo

Boat builders and those in the marine industry pointed out that the Government should be more lenient to those engaged in the industry by liberating the waters further and issuing more licences.

Addressing a media conference of Boat Show 2010, Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute (BTI) Chairman Neil Fernando, noted that the overall marine industry which first recovered from the catastrophic tsunami in 2004 was now experiencing difficulty in sailing forward despite the end of the war last May.

"With the influx of tourists the industry is looking into the prospects of leisure boating and water sports. In this regard we hope that the ports would in the future authorise anchorage facilities for leisure vessels. If the opportunity and capacity were utilised the latter should also be looked upon as an additional revenue generation," Fernando opined.

He remarked that the industry had tremendous potential for boat building in particular and tax incentives would assist the infrastructure development of the subdivision. It was further mentioned that Middle Eastern countries had much scope for skilled boat builders thereby increasing 'skilled' foreign employment prospects. The Institute in this regard has contributed to educational aspects of boat building by training unemployed and unskilled persons. Fernando added that those who had received the training had secured jobs in the Northern and Eastern coastlines.

Chief Guest Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris envisioned that Sri Lanka should be a hub of boats. He too remarked that the country had tremendous potential for exports, especially to countries such as Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He explained that the untapped industry of boat building contributed $37 million in 2007 and $61 million in 2009 to national exports.

"The marine industry goes above and beyond fishing. The country is capable of generating substantial foreign revenue from sails exports to countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Also the cost of fibre glass construction is less and boat builders find it lucrative to invest here," the Minister said.

Chairman Neil Fernando remarked that the industry was yet to adopt a number of precautionary measures. Highlighting a few, the Chairman explained that utilisation of sufficient boats in Nagadeepa, providing proper boats for whale and dolphin watching and restricting the use of fishing boats for this purpose and banning fishing boats that were converted to motor boats from navigating the Hikkaduwa marine park as they caused a severe and irreparable environmental impact.

German Ambassador Jens Uwe Plotner, a sailor himself, commented that his vision for the country was to see a few white sails (leisure sails) in the island besides the usual fishing boats.

The international boat exhibition 'Boat Show Sri Lanka 2010' is to be held from 24-26 April 2010 at the BMICH.

This would be the second time that the event would be held, the previous occasion being in 2008. It was mentioned that while 2008 accommodated 40 stalls and 80 buyers, 2010 had an additional 30 stalls or more and a number of local and international buyers, manufacturers and industry experts.