As per the instructions of the Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Export Development Board organized a meeting with the key Exporters and Investors on Friday 03rd May 2019 at the 3rd Floor Auditorium to discuss the current situation of the country.
Sri Lanka’s share in the global export market and the contribution of exports to the national GDP has been in decline whereas imports to the country is in the increase. Further exports are dependent on imported inputs therefore, it is noted that the gap between export and import has been continuously increasing.
The EDB is implementing a national programme to nurture 2000 new entrepreneurs to become exporters during the period 2017 - 2022 at regional level. The main objective of this programme is to encourage domestic enterprises to invest in export industries to achieve the overall export target of US $ 28 billion in 2022. Simultaneously new entrants have gained opportunities in the international marketing experience.
The EDB has identified BioFach as one of the best places to promote Sri Lankan organic products to the EU region and other countries. EDB in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany organized a national pavilion in an area of 117 s.qm at hall no 02 which was reserved for international exhibitors and most of the EU buyers visited to this hall.
2019-03-06/ http://www.ft.lk/business/National-program-to-develop-2000-new-exporters-by-the-year-2020/34-674061
The seventh seminar for the Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Mannar District entrepreneurs on the national program of developing 2000 new exporters was held on 1 March at the Vavuniya district secretariat conference hall.
The World Expo is one of the oldest and largest international events taking place every 5 years and lasting for 6 month where everyone can learn, innovate and create progress by sharing ideas and working together through a common theme. United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as the host country for the forthcoming event to be held in year 2020. This World Expo will be held for a period of six months from 20th October 2020 to 10th April 2021 in Dubai under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. The World Expo in Dubai in 2020 will be the first to be held in the MENA & SA (Middle East and North Africa & South Asia Region.
The National Export Strategy (NES) is progressing in the right direction. It has six focused areas and is expected to provide the impetus for the export drive supporting economic growth, Chairperson of the Export Development Board (EDB), Indira Malwatte said.
UAE is blessed with a strategic location between the East and West, which makes it accessible to major emerging economies, linking shipping routes and facilitating goods' transportation between the various regions in Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa. Understanding the preciousness of the location, the business community has launched GULFOOD Food & Beverage exhibition in 1987 in Dubai and the exhibition has grown to promote F&B trade between more than 180 countries annually. In 2018 Gulfood set records with 97,000 visitors attending and over 5000 companies from over 185 different countries exhibiting their products.
2019-01-21/ http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/01/22/business/175019/edb-seeks-green-light-quarantine-authorities-china
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has made a formal request to the Quarantine Authorities of China for obtaining quarantine clearance for in a bid to support Sri Lankan Agri-entrepreneurs in gaining new ground in China’s organic market.
Sri Lanka’s merchandise and service exports in 2018 are estimated to have hit an all-time high of $ 17 billion, up 15% from a year earlier prompting the Government to be confident of achieving the $20 billion milestone this year.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan organized an Inward Buyer Delegation from Japan, from 3rd to 5th December 2018 with the objective of developing business linkages between Sri Lankan companies and the Japanese buyers as well as to increase awareness among Sri Lankan exporters on the Japanese market.
2018-12-03/ http://www.ft.lk/business/Technical-transfer-program-for-coir-based-manufacturers-in-North-Western-and-Southern-provinces/34-668043
The EDB’s Regional Development Division successfully concluded a Technical transfer program for coir-based manufacturers in the North Western Province (NWP) & Southern Province (SP) from 19-29 November under the ‘2000 Exporters Development Program’.
NOCU organized an awareness workshop for the stakeholders engaged in organic agriculture related activities to educate them on the role of NOCU and international market prospects for organic agriculture products. Workshop was held on 29th November 2018 at the EDB 3rd Floor Auditorium. This workshop was organized for Growers/Farmers, Processors, Traders, Exporters, Importers Other organic related entrepreneurs etc.
2018-11-23/ http://www.ft.lk/business/Successful-participation-of-Sri-Lanka-at-first-China-International-Import-Expo-in-Shanghai/34-667466
The CIIE is China’s first import expo held at the national level, an innovation in the history of global trade. The first CIIE was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) and organised by Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal People’s Government supported by the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and organised by the China International Import Expo Bureau and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
2018-10-05/ http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/10/05/business/164603/import-promotion-desk-germany-partner-edb
The Chairperson and Chief Executive, EDB Indira Malwatte together with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Germany had extremely fruitful discussions with officers from Import Promotion Desk (IPD), the German initiatives for import promotion of selected countries.
The 22nd Presidential Export Awards Ceremony was held to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Exporters at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, on September 18, 2018, under the patronage of His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena the President of Sri Lanka.
Following is the address by Minister Malik Samarawickrama at the Presidential Export Awardson 18 September
2018-07-26/ http://www.ft.lk/business/EDB-organises-seminar-and-matchmaking-program-on-Canadian-market-in-Colombo/34-659773
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organised a seminar and matchmaking program with the services of two Canadian marketing experts. The objective of the program is to increase awareness among Sri Lankan exporters on the Canadian market and to develop business linkages between Sri Lankan companies and buyers in Canada for increasing exports to Canada.
Being the Strategic Partner of the Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2018 organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) 2018 from 19th to 21st June 2018, the EDB collaborated with CCC in organizing foreign buyers delegation for the event considering the benefits that will accrue to the development of exports through establishment of trade links, creating investment opportunities into the export sectors and image building efforts of the country.
In a fresh bid to enhance exports to China and attract investment, industry professionals gathered for a discussion last week organised by the Sri Lanka-China Business Council (SLCBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.