2014-12-31
Sri Lanka’s January–November exports have notched $10.1 Bn driven by 'across the board' surge and specifically led by apparel and industrial products and the crucial apparel volumes appear to be almost on its annual earnings target. “Several sub sectors including apparel and fishery have delivered and sustained our year on year growth” said Bandula Egodage, Chairman & CEO of EDB on 30 December.
EDB Chairman Egodage was commenting on the provisional top-line export data presented to him by his Directors in Colombo on 30 December at EDB..
2014-12-29
Established over 25 years, Gulfood has a well deserved reputation amongst the exporters for delivering spectacular return on investment. While being the Middle East’s leading exhibition dedicated to the food service and hospitality sectors, Gulfood is also the most influential annual Food and Hospitality show in the world. For the exporters seeking new sales from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Gulfood provides a trade and sourcing platform without equal, where international flavours find world-class business. With the record participation by the global companies, Gulfood is the metaphorical birthplace for a massive number of international business opportunities. Gulfood 2015 is scheduled to be held from 8th to 12th of February, 2015 in Dubai, UAE.
2014-12-03
The value of Sri Lanka’s total apparel exports for the first 11 months last year reached US$ 4302.4 million, registering 11% per cent growth. In 2013, Apparel exports had generated US$ 3876 million during the period January to November.
2014-11-27
As both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka moved closer to their historic trade pact, the process took a new turn as a keen Bangladeshi private sector itself stepping in to accelerate it on 27 November, a rare development in an on-going Lankan trade negotiations-and bilateral trade between both countries has jumped by a strong 67%.
“I will meet our Commerce Minister who is very well meaning and serious, and inform him to expedite the FTA process” said Mahbubur Rahman (President, International Chamber of Commerce of Bangladesh ICCB) on Thursday (27) in Colombo. ICCB President Rahman was addressing Rishad Bathiudeen.
2014-11-14
The storied iconic brands in the fashion industry, say, Nike, Diesel, Victoria’s Secrets, Mark & Spencer, H & M, GAP, NEXT, Levi’s among many others that are synonymous with exceptional fashion clothing rely on Sri Lanka as their topmost Apparel Sourcing Destination. Sri Lankan Apparel Exports mainly include Casual Wear, Fashion Wear, Intimate Wear, Swim Wear, Sports Wear, Uniform & Workwear and Children's Wear.
Thanks to an abundance of trainable and skilled labour force, technology infrastructure and visionary leadership, Sri Lankan Apparel industry has seen rapid growth and earned the trust and loyalty from the world leading Fashion brands that are unblinkingly strict about quality and socially compliant manufacturing practices.
Amidst a number of countries that export apparel, Sri Lanka enjoys a privileged position as a prime sourcing destination for garments without guilt. At the heart of this phenomenal success lies the philosophy that ‘Ethical Business is not a practice but a way of life’. The official website of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) proclaims “We take pride in saying that Ethical Business Practices and Responsible Commerce at Sri Lanka's Apparel Industry are not a response to increasing need and demand for 'Ethical Products' and satisfy Business Compliance, but has been a Way of Life for last 30 years across the 350 plants and over 1 Million strong workforce.”
2014-11-14
The delicious aroma that emanates as a few spoonfuls of Ceylon tea hit the simmering water in the white jug patterned with tea-buds every morning is refreshing forever. A sip of the steaming cup feels great on the tongue tickling the taste-buds. A great aroma with a fabulous taste, Ceylon Tea is beyond compare. Whether it’s in the morning or in the evening, a hot cup of tea is always a delectable drink.
But, as the Book of Tea, Kakuzo Okakura’s 1906 philosophical treatise on tea says, tea had been a medicine long before it became a beverage. The potent natural antioxidants that abound in green & black tea can protect regular tea drinkers from a number of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Continual consumption of correctly brewed Ceylon Tea is known to decrease the oxidation of fat. Catechins in green tea, theaflavins and thearubigins in black tea can inhibit lipid oxidation and plaque formation (which can cause heart disease), whilst cutting cholesterol. Regular consumption of tea is also known to reduce blood clotting. Blood clotting heightens the risk of coronary thrombosis.
2014-10-03
Plans are all under way for a Sri Lankan Pavilion to be set up at Gardex / IFEX 2014, Asia’s largest show focusing on all kinds of garden and outdoor products to be held from October 15 - 17 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Hailed as the industry’s Premier trade show, Gardex is a great meeting place for the major players.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board joins hands with Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo, Japan to organize the Sri Lankan pavilion at Gardex where 8 leading Sri Lankan companies exporting Coconut-based Substrate and a leading Foliage and Live Plants exporter will be showcasing their merchandise.
2014-09-30
Head of the Maldivian delegation Quasim Ibrahim addressing business entrepreneurs at the Maldives-Sri Lanka interactive business session on Tuesday said that the Maldives and Sri Lanka had been enjoying a unique friendship born of traditional ties in ethnicity, language and culture. These bonds signified historical ties that date back hundreds of years. The relationship had been served well by geographic proximity, frequent travel and brisk trade.
The session was organized by the Sri-Lanka Maldives Bilateral Business Council in association with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and was held at the Hilton.
2014-09-10
The International Colored Gem Stones Congress(ICA), the sole global think-tank which serves to benefit the colored gemstone industries have chosen Sri Lanka as its host country for its 16th congress to be held in May 16th - 19th, 2015 in Colombo at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.
This is the second time that Sri Lanka will be hosting the prestigious ICA event which prides itself for uniting various segments of the colored gem trade. The theme for the event is `Sapphire and MORE`. A `Facets Congress Gem Show` will also be held from May 15th to 18th at same venue.
2014-08-14
The Plastic and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka CEO Forum recently mooted ideas for improving plastic and rubber industries in Sri Lanka.
While quality adding has been long discussed topic of improvement, it was discussed that branding Sri Lankan rubber will give Sri Lankan rubber a significant boost.
Chairman and CEO of the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka, Bandula Egodage, who attended the event said rubber is one of the chief exports in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka's rank in the contribution of rubber exported globally is 32% . However, he also said Sri Lanka's solid tyres rank at the first place in exports, which is a clear indication that there is a market for value added goods rather than just the raw form.
2014-08-12
The North Western Provincial office of the SLEDB, successfully conducted the awareness seminar/workshop on Ornamental Fish for the export Market on 12th August 2014 in the auditorium of District Secretariat-Kurunegala with the participation of 110 export oriented Ornamental Fish farmers in North Western & North Central Provinces. The programme was organized by the NWP-EDB with the assistance of National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA).
The main objective of conducting this programme is to increase the capacity of export oriented ornamental fish farmers in the region by way of enhancing Technical/Market awareness and facilitating linkages between farmers and exporters in order to develop consolidated supply base of quality ornamental fish for exports.
2014-08-07
Relations between Vietnam and Sri Lanka are fast developing, and two-way trade between the countries has grown by nearly 100 percent during the last three years, Vietnamese Ambassador to Colombo Ton Sinh Thanh said.
He added the two-way trade over the past three years has been increasing by around 30 percent per year, the highest rate among Vietnam's trade with other South Asian countries. He made these revelation at the opening of the first-ever Sri Lanka Vietnam business center in Kelaniya, a venture promoted by the APL Group of Companies. Ambassador Thanh identified the new center as an important landmark in the economic relations between the two countries.
2014-08-06
FACETS Sri Lanka 2014, the prestigious International Gem and Jewellery Show that showcases hundreds of local and foreign exhibitors, will be held from 4th - 7th September at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre.
This year’s exhibition will comprise over 150 booths with a variety of Gem and Jewellery that include precious and semiprecious gems.
2014-07-29
Sri Lanka has been selected to host one of the world’s leading conferences on natural rubber Global Rubber Conference (GRC) 2014.
The three-day international event will be held from 27 to 30 October 2014 at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo.
Global Rubber Conference 2014 themed “Sowing the Seeds for Sustainable Future” is expected to bring together over 700 experts and delegates representing over 25 countries.
2014-07-23
In 2001, economist Jim O’Neill famously coined the term ‘BRIC’ to refer to the newly emerging economies of Brazil, Russian, India, and China. In 2014 O’Neill has now popularized a newer and what the BBC calls ‘fresher’ term – MINT – Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey (put forward by Fidelity Investments).
In a time where many developed nations are facing a crisis with regard to their ageing population, what makes MINT stand out, according to O’Neill, are their favourable demographic statistics. Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey are four of the world’s most heavily populated emerging economies, with populations of 118, 237, 174 and 73 million respectively. To add to that in the next 20 years all four countries will see a rise in the number of economically active workers to inactive - meaning they will have a declining dependency ratio. What this will do is ease the burden off the government. In recent years an increasing dependency ratio has plagued countries from the UK to Japan, putting pressure on government budgets and the shrinking work force. Thus the demographics of MINT will certainly be a source of envy for their more developed counterparts.
2014-07-01
The EDB recently held a workshop in Batticaloa to introduce the Fair Trade Concept to the Craft sector in the Eastern Province. The workshop was attended by around 40 participants representing giftware, lifestyle and handloom products. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Paul Myers, Expert on Fair Trade from U.S.A and there was a lot of interest shown by the companies /individuals present.
2014-06-25
The North Western Provincial office of the SLEDB, successfully conducted the awareness seminar/workshop on Cut foliage & flowers for the export Market on 20th June 2014 in the auditorium of District Secretariat-Kurunegala with the participation of 102 Cut foliage & Flowers out growers in North Western Province. The programme was organized by NWP-EDB with the assistance of Department of Agriculture.
The main objective of conducting this seminar was to increase the capacity of export oriented cut foliage out growers in the Province by way of enhancing Technical/Market awareness and facilitating linkages between out growers and exporters in order to develop consolidated supply base of quality Cut foliage & flowers for exports from Regions.
2014-06-23
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel in collaboration with the Export Development Board in Sri Lanka, Ministry of External Affairs in Sri Lanka, LR Group in Israel and the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce in Israel, has organised a ‘Business Forum’ for the Sri Lankan and Israeli business communities from 25 to 27 June, in order to strengthen bilateral, commercial, trade, cultural and other relations between the two friendly nations.
Main topics to be dealt with will include tourism, technology, water, energy, medical, apparel, employment, agriculture, green house cultivation, diary, fish, flora and fauna, diamonds, gems, jewellery, rubber, hospital, pharmaceuticals, highways, construction and any other topics by the prospective delegates based on their requirements.
2014-06-10
Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the Consulate General Office in Toronto, Canada organized the Sri Lanka’s participation at SIAL Canada 2014. . Five Sri Lankan food & Beverages exporting companies participated in the programme.
2014-06-09
“International Education Fair 2014”; an annual education promotion programme will be held on 13th& 14th June at the Art Gallery - Malé. This s being organized for the fourth consecutive time and this time it is being organized as a national event by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in Maldives and Millennium Concepts –Maldives. AOD – The International Design Campus – Sri Lanka joins hands with them as the Gold Sponsor. This promotional programme mainly includes the “Study in Sri Lanka” concept and these two day exhibition will be followed by few Networking meetings with the Ministry of Education Malé.
The Maldivian Government encourages deserving Maldivian students to pursue higher studies overseas by granting education funding. There is also a constant growing demand among the youth to study overseas. There were 1,000 Scholarships which have been announced by the President in March 2014. Promoting study opportunities, raising awareness of the company profile or generating sales leads can be achieved by participating in this event.
