Sri Lanka's Export Development Board (EDB) completed a comprehensive 6-week export coaching programme aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an export potential, registered under EDB New Exporter Development Programme (NEDP) to develop their Export Marketing Plans as the 1ststep in their journey towards becoming export-ready. New Exporter Development Programme implemented by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board is aimed at developing export potential of SMEs’ to enter export markets.
The programme consisted of 3 phases. A group of 25 SMEs demonstrating export potential were selected by an internal evaluation panel as the 1ststep of the program.
The second phase involved both individual and group training sessions on export marketing planning. A dedicated team of Export Development Board officers, trained by the International Trade Center (ITC) as Export Marketing Plan (EMP) coaches, conducted these informative sessions. SMEs received guidance from these officers in developing their export marketing plans for a selected product in a target market. Additionally, there were some knowledge sharing sessions for the SMEs on important aspects on export planning such as packaging development for the export market, marketing & branding, logistics and export documentations with the support of experts from the industry.
The final stage featured an Export Market Pitching programme on December 5, 2023 where seventeen SMEs presented their export marketing plans, outlining their financial requirement for entry in to international market, such as obtaining market intelligence, quality enhancement, capacity building, packaging development, marketing and branding.
An external evaluation panel, including Ms Rathnija Arandara- Senior Operations Officer- International Finance Corporations (IFC), Prof. B. Nishantha- Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Management & Finance, University of Colombo & Dr Dilhan Sampath Jayatilleke - Honorary Secretary, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) evaluated the presented export marketing plans. Ms Rosa Nelly- External Consultant- Import Promotion Desk, Germany participated the programme as an observer and giving the feedback on the Export Marketing Plans presented.
Eventually, Lak Nature International Pvt Ltd, Serangreen Holdings Pvt Ltd, Saviru Spices & Naturals (Pvt) Ltd, Star Mushroom, Aqua Zone Ornamental Fish Farm Pvt Ltd, Cloud Content Marketing Pvt Ltd, Jay Ceylon Cinnamon Pvt Ltd, Nathuco Brown, Randee Super Food Pvt Ltd, St Theresa DC Mills Pvt Ltd were selected by the panel as the 10 best export marketing plans. The winning companies will be assisted by Sri Lanka Export Development Board to implement their next stage of Export Marketing Plans.
