|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 30 March 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
High-tech workers for local plastics sector A German government-supported "Public Private Partnership" has enabled a high-tech engineering company to source skilled workers, while simultaneously providing highly sought-after training to Sri Lankan youth. Last week, the BOI-approved Boehm Leckner Multi Moulds (Pvt) Ltd. (BLMM) graduated its first batch of 12 trainees, all of whom have gone through a rigorous 18-month inplant training programme on precision plastic mould making. Another 12 participants from government technical institutions and the private sector will receive certificates on successful completion of a part-time training course in plastic moulding technology held at BLMM. According to BLMM's Managing Director, Ronnie Hatch, the company has already absorbed five of the 12 trainees. "As for the others, their chances of being absorbed by the engineering sector in Sri Lanka are very good. My fear is that with this level of training, they may be snapped up by industries in the Middle East," Mr. Hatch said. Established in Sri Lanka in 1993, the German-headquarters BLMM manufactures moulds for the thermoplastic and rubber industry and engineering plastics for the automobile industry through the use of high-precision machinery. It didn't however, take long for the company to realize that there was a dearth of trained workers coming out of the country's training institutes with the capability of handling precision machinery. Said Mr. Hatch: "We use modern high precision machinery in our operations, and as our business developed, we found that the company's objectives for expansion of its engineering activities could not be achieved due to a shortage of skilled workers who had the required experience and training in this field of engineering. In July 2001, the company entered into a "Public Private Partnership" with the Federal Republic of Germany's Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development for the establishment of an inplant training programme for Sri Lankans on the manufacture of precision plastic moulds. The partnership was to be implemented with assistance of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). GTZ is one of the largest service organizations for development co-operation in the world. Acting on behalf of the German Federal Government, GTZ operates on socially equitable market economy principles, using public funds to support technical and development co-operation projects that benefit people in 130 countries around the world. GTZ, on behalf of the German ministry, provided Euro 196,000 for the partnership project, while BLMM's contribution was Euro 230,000. Together with the company, GTZ sourced a highly qualified training manager from Germany for the development and implementation of various training programmes and provided educational and training material for the training programmes which took place at BLMM's plant at the Katunayake EPZ. GTZ also co-ordinated with the Apprenticeship Training Institute of Sri Lanka to identify the trainees. In addition, GTZ agreed to provide yearly funds for three employees of the company to travel to Germany to participate in advanced training at BLMM's headquarters in Bremen. "We're very happy with the outcome of the partnership. It has enabled valuable high-tech training opportunities for Sri Lanka's youth while also providing the company with trained personnel," said Mr. Bernd Ulrich-Hiilig, BLMM's Manager, Training and Development. BLMM, which has a workforce of 270 Sri Lankans and five expatriates, had a turnover of around Euro 6 million in 2002. With the expansion plan in place, the company expects to substantially increase its turnover during the current year. Directors of the company are: Mr. Konrad Weicker (Chairman); Mr. Edgar Boehm; Mr. Heinz Leckner and Mr. Ronnie Hatch, Managing Director. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
