Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
Import Promotion Desk (IPD) intensifies its activities in Sri Lanka and amplifies its cooperation with their strategical partner EDB – the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka. The initiative, funded by the Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), supports national organizations to further develop export promotion services and establish sustainable trade relations. At the opening ceremony of the IPD Hub in Sri Lanka, which was held on 27th January, 2022 in Colombo, the EDB and IPD reaffirm their commitment to their cooperation.
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports increased by 16.71% to US$ 1,125.69 Million in December 2021 compared to December 2020 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. In parallel, 12.48% increase recorded in December 2021 compared to December 2019.
EDB in collaboration with Import Promotion Desk (IPD), Germany conducted an onsite training program on 25th January, 2025 for exporters who are going to participate for the Biofach trade fair 2022.
In the autumn 2021, IPD took up residency in its office on the premises of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in Colombo. The IPD hub is now set to be officially opened on 27 January in a ceremony attended by Sri Lankan Minister of Trade Hon. Bandula Gunawardena, German Ambassador Holger Seubert and Gregor Wolf, Deputy Managing Director of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA).
Electronic and Electrical Sector has recorded a 30% increase in its export earnings compared to $328mn recorded last year, despite COVID-pandemic challenges.
Jan Paul Bethke, a leading German importer of Sri Lankan fruits and tea, urged Sri Lankan agri-product exporters to practice effective and superior packaging if they are to be successful in terms of capturing markets in Europe. “If you package your product well, include a QR code (incorporating extensive details such as the farmer who grew products), and convey a personalised story, customers in advanced markets such as Germany and Europe would develop an affinity with your products”, Bethke noted. He made these remarks at a forum organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) on packaging and value addition strategies to enhance Sri Lanka’s agri-product exports to Germany on 12th January, 2022.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) won the bronze award under the statutory board category at the Best Annual Report & Accounts Awards - 2021, organized by the Association of Public Finance Accountants of Sri Lanka (APFASL), which is the public wing of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka). This annual event recognizes and honours public sector institutions that demonstrate high-quality financial reporting. For 2021, the APFASL had received 97 applications from public sector institutions to compete for awards at the yearly event.
Sri Lanka’s export in 2021 from rubber product sector has achieved US$ 1 Bn income and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) intends to increase it to US$ 3 Bn by 2025. It is imperative to produce superior-quality rubber products in order to achieve this target. The EDB expects that the proposed dedicated industrial zone in Horana for rubber-based manufacturing firms would soon become a reality.
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports increased by 55.11% to US$ 1,215.6 Million in November 2021 compared to November 2020 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. Exports maintained above one billion dollars for the fifth consecutive month in November this year.
Fair trade is an alternative to conventional trade which strives to support producers and workers across the world, to achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships.
“Born in Sri Lanka – Ceylon Cinnamon” was the title of a virtual event conducted last week in Melbourne, with the participation of a panel of experts and businessmen in the field, for the promotion of Ceylon Cinnamon in the Australian states of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. The purpose of the event was to reinvigorate the market enthusiasm for Ceylon Cinnamon in Australia by bringing forth the new information on various export products of Ceylon Cinnamon manufactured in Sri Lanka and the process of their export to Australia with special focus on the Australian regulations and market dynamics.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) – Regional Development division implemented an Export Coaching Programme as a pilot project for twenty-five (25) selected, export potential SMEs that are registered under the EDB – New Exporter Development Programme and assist them to develop capacities to enter the export market.
As the country’s exports continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) remains confident of the future prospects of the country’s export sector, with its focus to break into premium markets.
Last year, the Export Development Board (EDB) could not hold the Presidential Export Awards for financial year 2019/2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and therefore it was held as a combined awards scheme this year.
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports increased by 35.9% to US$ 1,160.62 Million in October 2021 compared to October 2020 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. Exports maintained above one billion for the fifth time this year.
Every year Global Entrepreneurship Week is celebrated during the week of the second Monday in November to appreciate the contribution of entrepreneurs towards the well-being of societies across the world by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) – a worldwide platform of initiatives and programs that are designed to assist with the creation of a global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The demand for organic food products is continuously increasing due to the growing interest in markets such as EU, USA, Middle East, Japan, and China. Among the producing countries, Sri Lanka maintains a reputation as a reliable producer and supplier of organic agricultural products adhering to the internationally required organic standards such as “EU Organic”, “USDA”, “JAS” etc. Even during COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka has received considerable amount of orders for organic food products such as tea, spices, coconut kernel products, jack fruit products, traditional rice, kithul treacle etc. As a result, increasing the supply base of organic food products to serve the foreign orders on time is necessary to bring more foreign currency to the country. Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia are the main markets for these products. Even though our farmers/processors follow organic agricultural and processing practices, the products will not be marketed as “organic” unless it is verified and certified by a third-party-accredited certification body.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in China and the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Shanghai has made arrangements to organize Sri Lanka’s participation at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE),which is currently taking place at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai.
A multi-party meeting on enhancing bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was held at the Export Development Board (EDB) on 3rd November, 2021, under the patronage of the Hon. Minister of Trade, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka H.E Tareq Md Ariful Islam with the participation of companies that export products to Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is planning to hold the 24th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21 on 26th November 2021 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of His Excellency the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
