Chairman Sindh Board of Investment (SBI), Muhammad Zubair Motiwala has said that the foremost objective of Sindh Stone Development Company (SSDC) is to enhance the export of valuable marble and granite resources of Pakistan by focusing on increased competitiveness and modernisation of existing marble practices because very high demand exists in the international market for Pakistani marble but unfortunately it could not be satisfied due to dearth of modern technology among the existing players.
Countries like Italy and China have expressed keen interest for transfer of technology for processing units to be established in this industrial park. This he said while presiding over first board meeting of Sindh Stone Development Company was held to devise the way forward for establishing a special economic zone for promoting value addition and exports in the Marble and Granite cluster.
The zone will comprise of cutting edge processing industry, common training facilities, exhibition area, warehouses and machinery pool.
Secretary Investment, Mohammad Younus Dagha highlighted the objectives for the establishment of independent company under the umbrella of Sindh government; he elaborated that Government of Sindh has allocated 300 acres of on the northern by-pass with availability of fresh canal water from Hub Dam.
Dagha said that our prime objective is to facilitate the existing middle class entrepreneurs by providing them with technical assistance and one stop facilitation to enhance export oriented productivity of this sector and to avoid wastage of raw material.
He further said that the project shall have tremendous investment and growth potential for entrepreneurs being based on high end technology, innovation and services. The concept is based on a cutting edge technology, common facility, training institute and most technologically advanced industrial park for Marble and Granite sector in Karachi.
SSDC intends to engage consultant firm for master planning and infrastructure development. Sindh Land Management Development Company has offered to share their expertise in topographical survey and master planning of the zone. They have been requested to submit a proposal for fast track implementation of the project.
The meeting was also attended by the directors from private sector Sanaullah Khan, Amin Hashwani and Haroon Rashid. They assured the board of their dedicated support development of marble industry.-PR