Loadstar, a Sri Lankan company partnering with Belgium’s Solideal, happens to be the largest solid tire manufacturer in the world. It also ranks fourth place in air tires, and is now the world’s second largest equipment manufacturer of both rims and tracks. Nippon Maruchi, another Sri Lankan company (with the parent company situated in Japan), processes 55% of the world’s cell phone sensors. Believe it or not, 100% of Motorola’s actuators are processed in here in Sri Lanka.
Haycarb, yet another Sri Lankan company is the world’s largest Activated Carbon manufacturer, producing over 18,000 Metric tones of activated carbon each year. Dankotuwa Procelain, Noritake and other ceramics manufacturers in Sri Lanka have been able to tilt a portion of the world market of ceramics from China to Sri Lanka.
MIT with their stock market software, WS02 with their open source initiatives, Virtusa and all the other IT companies that have sprung up have redirected the flow of software outsourcing and have created a strong name for themselves and Sri Lanka in the world of IT.
Of course, textile companies like Mas Holdings and Brandix need no introduction.
So these examples clearly show that in spite of our industrial sector being comparatively small when compared to the service sector, we have been able to score strong points by concentrating on niches that matter.
Nothing lasts forever though, and with the current turn of events of the country it’s hard to predict what will become of the markets that we hold today. Mr. Shelton Fernando, Managing Director of Nippon Maruchi points out that everywhere we look, we see half completed jobs. Roads without pavements, a capital city without a proper transportation system, an electricity grid that cannot be relied upon, a water supply that is never consistent, etc etc etc. His argument is with an environment as flawed to this extent, how can companies reach out to make products that need nanometer precision?
But perhaps the deciding factor of further industrial development [or the lack there of] would be the reluctance to change the historic brand of Sri Lanka. We love to dwell on the fantasy of a self-reliant agricultural nation that can survive on it own. We live in our glorious past and fail to realize a realistic future. We still believe in the independence of a nation rather than the inter-dependency of a global village.
To create a successful country brand, it should first be created in the minds of the people. India’s authentic brand of culture, America’s brand of freedom, and Australia’s brand of multi-nationalism was instilled in the minds of the people long before they became realities.
I think it’s high time to start.
Ending note: Patriotism and country branding are two different things. Understanding this difference goes a long way. Perhaps even towards worldwide peace & prosperity.
Haycarb, yet another Sri Lankan company is the world’s largest Activated Carbon manufacturer, producing over 18,000 Metric tones of activated carbon each year. Dankotuwa Procelain, Noritake and other ceramics manufacturers in Sri Lanka have been able to tilt a portion of the world market of ceramics from China to Sri Lanka.
MIT with their stock market software, WS02 with their open source initiatives, Virtusa and all the other IT companies that have sprung up have redirected the flow of software outsourcing and have created a strong name for themselves and Sri Lanka in the world of IT.
Of course, textile companies like Mas Holdings and Brandix need no introduction.
So these examples clearly show that in spite of our industrial sector being comparatively small when compared to the service sector, we have been able to score strong points by concentrating on niches that matter.
Nothing lasts forever though, and with the current turn of events of the country it’s hard to predict what will become of the markets that we hold today. Mr. Shelton Fernando, Managing Director of Nippon Maruchi points out that everywhere we look, we see half completed jobs. Roads without pavements, a capital city without a proper transportation system, an electricity grid that cannot be relied upon, a water supply that is never consistent, etc etc etc. His argument is with an environment as flawed to this extent, how can companies reach out to make products that need nanometer precision?
But perhaps the deciding factor of further industrial development [or the lack there of] would be the reluctance to change the historic brand of Sri Lanka. We love to dwell on the fantasy of a self-reliant agricultural nation that can survive on it own. We live in our glorious past and fail to realize a realistic future. We still believe in the independence of a nation rather than the inter-dependency of a global village.
To create a successful country brand, it should first be created in the minds of the people. India’s authentic brand of culture, America’s brand of freedom, and Australia’s brand of multi-nationalism was instilled in the minds of the people long before they became realities.
I think it’s high time to start.
Ending note: Patriotism and country branding are two different things. Understanding this difference goes a long way. Perhaps even towards worldwide peace & prosperity.
9 comments:
Keep waiting.. we should try and make our country a better place as far as we could.
Genesis,
Adding URLs to the comments without contributing to the post is considered spamming.
Free expression is encouraged, but NOT spamming.
This comment was left by Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara.
"I always site these information to encourage young innovators. The
secret behind all these is being innovative and unique. Sri Lanka
should try to build up on these and give way to innovators more. But
building a brand for Sri Lanka will take a long time. That will build
up when almost everything manufactured in Sri Lanka will be accepted
as excellent. Which is not the case now. A lot of people cheat, and
disobey rules. That should stop. But few in the front are building
their own brand names. That is a good thing to see."
Well its seems like all the things that you have mentioned here are suppose to encourage patriots of this country, but did you had a second glance at the some of the companies you have mentioned in your bolg? Most of them are multi national companies and they do nothing patriotic to our country, all they do is extract all they can get from our country and leave it in the end. So RKO (this is the nickname I'm giving you) I say we should rise up ourselves and do noy expect helps from others (like India, Australia, Germany etc.).
Patriotism, as practiced today, is hollow. It is like a ballon. The attempt is to portray something bigger out of almost nothing. Branding requires substance to support it. Mere feelings alone will not create a brand. Feeling has to be based on some thing real. The reason is that it has to be build up in others mind, unlike the patriotism that is built in one's own. Patriotism is easy to build up branding is difficult. Nations which are lazy like to build the former while others who are more adventerous build up the latter.
Anon1,
Please refer to Anon2's comment. This post is definitely not to promote patriotism. On the contrary, it's quite the opposite.
Anon2,
My sentiments exactly.
I have always being a firm believer in focusing ourselves in a niche area of a business sector or a technological area. Sri Lanka cannot afford to be able to do everying since we lack the human resources compared to the rest of the world. By focusing ourselves in few areas we can become specialists in domains and technologies than being jack of all trades. This approach can create the edge we need in branding the outsourcing capabilities of our nation.
Send Gifts to Srilanka, Flowers to Srilanka, Cakes and Chocolates to Sri Lanka and Colombo.
Post a Comment