The EDB in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Merchant Shipping Secretariat and other government and private sector institutions has launched the development of a regulatory framework covering the value chain of the boat building industry (excluding fishing boats).
The service of an international expert was obtained to develop the framework. The final report will be completed by the end of 2019 and will be presented to a government agency for implementation. The EDB has launched promotional programs to raise the awareness of the potential of the industry. As the first step, EDB organised the participation of three boat building companies at the Genoa Boat Show in Italy recently.
The 59th edition of the Genoa Boat show organised by Fiera di Genova SpA and the Italian Marine Industry Association (UCINA) presented over 1,000 vessels on display including latest products from the national and international nautical industry.
This year’s show hosted 986 exhibitors from 28 countries and five continents. Over 188,400 people visited the show.
This was Sri Lanka’s first participation at the Genoa Boat Show.
The companies got the opportunity to experience the latest developments, new trends in boat building and yachting industry, including all kinds of boats to boat components and accessories.
A Sri Lankan boat manufacturer was able to obtain orders for the boats displayed at the show to the value of Euro 6,900 and other companies are negotiating with the business inquiries they received.
The EDB with the boat Building Technology Improvement Institute (BTI), the private sector industry association has launched the ‘ICOMIA Asia Project’ to profile Sri Lanka’s boat industry to identify and understand obstacles to growth of the recreational marine sector in Asia, thereby unlocking industry potential, gain support of the government authorities and develop a friendly recreational boating environment in the region. A ‘Grow Boating Campaign’ has been launched to promote boating as a lifestyle and improve the internal and external market demand for boating related products and services, including boats manufacturing in Sri Lanka.