As per the Customs statistics, earnings from merchandise exports recorded a negative growth of 20.97% in November 2020 to US$ 747.58 Mn as compared to the value of US$ 978.80 Mn recorded in November 2019 due to the adverse impact of 2nd wave of Covid 19 pandemic within the country and globally. Reduction recorded in October exports due to the C19 outbreak in Sri Lanka which has had a direct impact on our manufacturing and export facilities also continued in November 2020.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) last week successfully completed its 30 th capacity-development webinar session to the exporter community and SMEs. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation of the country, the EDB could not carry out its conventional capacity development programmes such as workshops and seminars, due to the health regulations imposed on people-gathering activities. As an alternative method, online sessions were conducted to enhance the capacity and knowledge of exporters and SMEs in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) and Plastic and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL) organized a two (2)-day virtual workshop on advanced technology and smart manufacturing to upgrade the knowledge of the industry on technological advancements in the global rubber industry by obtaining the services of local and international technical experts on 18th & 19th December, 2020. This was the third such workshop organized as a follow up to the past workshops in 2018 and 2019 on product Innovation, technology and R&D for the Sri Lankan tyre manufacturing industry.
Suresh de Mel, a well-known entrepreneur, assumed duties as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) yesterday (December 14). He succeeds the outgoing EDB Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe who ended his one-year tenure early this month.