The pace of development work has been geared up on two mega projects in Sialkot, including Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC) and Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre (SBCC), costing more than Rs 776 million. Official sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that SIDC would be completed at a cost of Rs 435.64 million while SBCC would cost Rs 341.67 million.
The concept of setting up SIDC was to extend new technology of mechanised ball which was a threat to hand stitched inflatable soccer ball industry of Sialkot. The SIDC project was initiated by federal government to address the problems of soccer ball industry of Sialkot, besides its modernisation. The sports goods industry was confronting a serious threat in the form of thermo molded ball that uses medium end technology to produce a ball having most of characteristics of hand stitched ball. Sialkot is catering 85 percent of total world demand of hand stitched inflatable balls. This means 60 million balls annually.
The regular functioning of SIDC would enable the soccer ball manufacturers to cope with the new challenges and trends in the international market, while this project would also enhance the capacity and competitiveness of football industry in the field of mechanised balls and help other industries on modern lines. It may be added that Sports Industries Development Centre is a joint initiative of ministry of production, Smeda (Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority) and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre (SBCC) would be eight-storey building and would consist of a convention centre, business facilitation centre, library, marketing services and display centre, and it will help promote industrial development through provision of facilities.
The completion of SBCC will add new dimensions to business activities in Sialkot and would be a landmark building in this city. The project has been undertaken on public-private partnership. Both projects would be operational next year, sources added.