15 December 2020 12:00 am
The proposed US $ 300 million Chinese investment in Hambantota will create 2,000 local jobs and boost the local rubber industry, a spokesman for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka said
The spokesman said Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port industrial zone signed the agreement to manufacture radial car and truck/bus tyres for export.
“The project will bring 20,000 to 30,000 containers every year, create 2,000 local jobs and boost the local rubber industry. In the future, we look forward to more progress in the fields of economy, trade and investment,” she said.
She said both Port City Colombo and Hambantota Port projects were Sri Lanka government-initiated ones, and executed by reputed Chinese companies.
“Sri Lanka economy needs to speed-up. Sri Lankan people’s life needs to be improved. Port City is the city of the future co-built by China and Sri Lanka. Except for the huge investment and great vision, Port City also fulfils its social responsibilities. For example, it has taken steps to support local fishers by allocating US $ 3 million towards a Fishermen Livelihood Improvement Programme. Accordingly, 15,450 fishermen had been offered insurance from 2016-2019, and 6,000 have benefited from 35 health camps organised by the company. For Port City, priority was given to local elements and localised procurements. It has created job opportunities that directly support 8,000 locals, and successfully achieved 12 million safe work hours with zero accidents. 1,500 local suppliers have been systematically trained,” she said.
She said China Merchants had directly carried out charitable activities in the host country, including the construction of a new teaching building for the Tissapura School, donations to local universities and research institutions for environmental protection research on human-elephant conflict, and donations to the “Loving Village” in Pannila, Western Province.
From 2014 to 2020, the value of direct donations exceeded HK$15,955,000. (USD 2,058,468) Among them, the total amount of donations in 2020 is more than HK$3,395,000. (USD 438,000)