The development work on mega project of Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC) and Sialkot business and commerce centre has been further accelerated and the project would be accomplished at a cost of more than Rs 435.64 million.
Official sources on Sunday told Business Recorder here that the SIDC project was initiated by Ministry of Industries, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to help sports industry to adopt new technology of mechanised thermo laminated balls by providing training, common facilities and technical advisory services as well as mold machinery services.
The concept of initiating this project was to introduce a new mechanised all technology in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry where large number of manufacturing units are producing hand stitched soccer balls and this technology was being shifted to mechanised Thermo Laminated Balls. The centre will help developing prototype balls for local industry and industrial workforce would be trained and local manufacturers will be able to replace their existing set up of hand stitched balls with mechanised thermo laminated soccer balls.
Sports goods industry was facing serious threat in the form of thermo molded ball that uses medium end technology to produce a ball having most of the characteristics of hand stitched ball.
Sialkot was catering 85 percent of the total world demand of hand stitched inflatable balls, which means 60 million balls annually worth over US210 million dollars and these balls are produced by a work force of around 60,000 and exported to world market.
The SIDC project will facilitate local industry hand it in sustaining Pakistan's position in international market of inflatable balls in general and soccer ball in particular. In addition to this SIDC will help produce mechanised thermo laminated soccer balls, volleyballs and basketballs of international standards. At present Pakistan has only captured market of soccer ball but the regular functioning of the SIDC will the industry in exploring the new markets of volleyball and basket balls which is yet to be explore. The SIDC will produce 3,500 balls per day on single shift basis, 100 master trainers per year and 40 mold makers per year.