Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
The High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka in association with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), formally launched The EXPO Pakistan 2013- Opportunities Unlimited on 24 June, 2013 in Colombo.
Minister for Industries and Commerce of Sri Lanka, Rishad Bathiuddin graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and jointly inaugurated the event, with the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Maj Gen Qasim Qureshi (Retd).
Chairman Export Development Board of Sri Lanka, Bandula Egodage, representatives of the main chambers of Sri Lanka i.e. Ceylon Chambers, National Chambers of Industries, Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Women Chamber of Sri Lanka and the members of Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council, along with major business houses such as Aitkens Spence, Ceylon Biscuit Limited, Akbar brothers, Calico, CW Mackie, Haleys, Macksons, Eswaran Brothers, Packages Lanka, Hands Logistics and Tunip Lanka attended the ceremony.
Japan’s ITOCHU Corporation will help further strengthen Japan-Sri Lanka trade ties under which investments are to be for expanding the island’s banana and tuna fishing industries and greater export opportunities will be provided for products.
Kouhei Watanebe, Chairman , the Japan - Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Councial and advisor to ITOCHU corporation said this when he and the corporation’s representatives met Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the ministry office on Tuesday June 25.
As bilateral trade volume closes in on the crucial $ 5Bn mark, historic dialogue between Sri Lanka and the European Union appears to bolster even further. “We look for better trade levels and also thank EU for its on-going support,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing Ambassador Bernard Savage (Head of the Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from the European Commission) on 20 June during Amb. Savage’s farewell courtesy call on Minister Bathiudeen at the EDB premises, Colombo.
“In 2012, 26% of total food and beverages exports were processed foods, at $ 73.4 million.
Our overall processed food exports which stood at $ 67.1 million in 2010 rose to a strong $ 95 million in 2011,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen at the launch of the first International Food Safety and Compliance training sessions for Sri Lanka’s food exporters by Associate Professor of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition of the Washington State University, Food Scientist, Dr. Barbara Rasco, were held at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The pioneering session was organised by the Sri Lanka Food Processors’ Association and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce with the Spice Council and VEGA-FEG. The sessions were held from June 11 to June 21.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s exports history, on June 11, a renowned global food scientist began to extensively train Lankan food exporters on the much needed international regulatory compliance rules.
Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka said that processed food has grown to become a key component of Sri Lanka’s overall annual food exports. In 2012, 26% of total food and beverages exports were processed foods, at $ 73.4 Mn. Sri Lanka's overall processed food exports which stood at $ 67.1 Mn in 2010 rose to a strong $ 95 Mn in 2011 added the Minister.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s exports history, a renowned global food scientist began on June 11 to extensively train Lankan food exporters on the much needed international regulatory compliance rules. And processed food has grown to become a key component of Sri Lanka’s overall annual food exports.
“In 2012, 26% of total food and beverages exports were processed foods, at $ 73.4 mn. Our overall processed food exports which stood at $ 67.1 mn in 2010 rose to a strong $ 95 mn in 2011,” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka on June 11 in Colombo. Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the launch event of fist International Food Safety and Compliance Training session by globally renowned Food Scientist Dr. Barbara Rasco, Associate Professor of the Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition of the Washington State University.
Senior Minister for International Monetary Co-operation Dr. Sarath Amunugama has proposed to make it mandatory for Sri Lanka's cinnamon exporters to adhere to the specifications for Sri Lanka standard for exporting of cinnamon.
The proposed measure is aimed at preventing the export of low quality cinnamon and enhancing the production of cinnamon in the country sustaining the livelihood of more than 350,000 families engaged in the industry, the government says.
The growth of bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Austria, despite the economic recession in Europe and the steady increase in direct foreign investment from Austria augur well for the future of relations between Sri Lanka and Austria, External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris said.
He said this during a meeting on Tuesday with Austria's Vice Chancellor (Deputy Prime Minster) and European and International Affairs Minister Dr Michael Spindelegge at the Foreign Ministry in Vienna.
The ministers noted that Austrian companies are showing increasing interest in bidding for major infrastructure development projects, while others have already undertaken construction projects in Sri Lanka, including the Greater Colombo sewerage system rehabilitation project.
Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday revealed that Sri Lanka have more than 2% share of the global ornamental fish market which is around US$ 340 million. “We are also now recognised as one of the best ornamental fish suppliers to the international market.”
Bathiudeen was addressing the press briefing held at the Export Development Board (EDB) to announce Sri Lanka’s strong achievements at the AQUARAMA 2013 event in Singapore.
More than 300 competitors from 10 countries, submitting 1,350 entries, were taking part in the highly competitive AQUARAMA 2013 international ornamental fishery event held in Singapore from 28 May to 2 June.
Seventeen Sri Lankan firms, facilitated and sponsored by EDB, competing in the event won 30 awards, which was symbolically re-awarded by Minister Bathiudeen with his praise, yesterday.
A corporate affairs and communications professional from one of the world’s largest food and beverage multinationals has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Export Development Board (EDB) of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday appointed Nestlé Lanka PLC Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communication Bandula Egodage to the helm of EDB.
He will continue in his permanent position at Nestle Lanka. The new appointment follows the resignation of Janaka Ratnayake late last year.
The 14th annual Sri Lanka Economic Summit which scheduled to be held from July 9-11, 2013 in Colombo will have one of its sessions discussing about Sri Lanka's export strategy.
The Government policy framework has targeted to raise the rate of growth in exports to double that of GDP growth, but exports as a % of GDP have halved from year 2000 to 2012. The share of exports of Sri Lanka as a percentage of world exports has also declined over the years to reach 0.06% by 2011. The basket of merchandise exports from Sri Lanka as well as our exports markets have remained largely unchanged over the last few decades. The foregoing situation and change in the global economic scenario, with Asia gaining ground over the West, require us to rethink our export strategy given the importance of exports to a small economy targeting to achieve sustained high economic growth in the future.
