Since the UK is the main market for Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU region and the second largest export market after the USA, it is important for Sri Lanka to receive the same tariff preferences it was enjoying prior to Brexit when trading with the UK in the post Brexit period.
As per the Customs statistics, earnings from merchandise exports recorded a negative growth of 14.9% in October 2020 to US$ 831.72 Mn as compared to the value of US$ 977.3 Mn recorded in October 2019. This poor performance is due to the adverse impact of 2nd wave of Covid 19 pandemic within the country and globally.
Due to the difficulties of organizing physical export promotion programmes during this pandemic situation, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan Missions overseas has initiated online sessions to enable foreign buyers and Sri Lankan exporters meet via virtual platforms with the objective of creating trade linkages between Sri Lanka and the rest of the world, as it is imperative to sustain the nation’s export promotional activities in spite of severe challenges caused by COVID-19.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on 6th November 2020 between the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and COFCO Womai Investment Co., Ltd to establish an online National Exhibition Hall to promote Sri Lanka’s export products in the www.womai.com e-commerce platform as a parallel activity to the Sri Lanka’s participation at the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2020. CIIE 2020 will be held from 5th to 10th of November at the National Convention Center, Shanghai, China with the intention to expand the access to the Chinese market.
The Export Development Board (EDB), expressing its concern about the resurgence of COVID-19 in main markets, has called on the private sector to plan and prepare as it is threatening to impact trade once again.
The commendable performance of Sri Lankan exporters and the resilience shown during an unprecedented COVID 19 pandemic is to be rewarded by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, of the Ministry of Trade, through a proposed export stimulus Reward Scheme.
The first meeting of the Export Development Council (EDC) was held yesterday under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, focused on resolving issues related to exports in tandem with the National Export Strategy (NES) to be a game-changer in the post-COVID-19 economic transformation of Sri Lanka.
E-commerce Readiness Assessment Report Sri Lanka was launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). The report is the result of a request by the EDB in 2018 for technical assistance from COMSEC to conduct an e-readiness assessment for Sri Lanka and undertake capacity-building programmes on e-commerce for SMEs and women entrepreneurs. The project was funded by COMSEC through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC). The publication comes at a time when businesses in Sri Lanka were compelled to exploit e-commerce mechanisms in the wake of lockdowns and travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
GPV Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd won the TAIKI AKIMOTO 5S Gold Award 2019 under the large category presented by Japanese Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association (JASTECA).
Sri Lanka’s exports during the month of August 2020 recorded a downfall of 19.2% to US$ 947.7 Mn as compared to the value of US$ 1,033.3 Mn recorded same month of last year.
Against a transformative and competitive regional backdrop, Sri Lanka aspires to become South Asia’s logistics hub. The leading impetus to this ambitious vision is Sri Lanka’s National Export Strategy (NES); and its prominence to the logistics industry. Directly employing roughly over 50,000 people industry-wide, the sector has an ambitious vision to grow from a traditional transshipment hub to a regional logistics center. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing transshipment hubs in the world, Sri Lanka offers a unique package of innovative multi-modal logistics services.
Sri Lanka’s exports have surpassed the $ 1 billion mark in July after six months time period where a similar achievement was only recorded in January during this year.
A webinar was held between the Sri Lanka High Commission and some tea importers in Pakistan on the 14th of July 2020 to exploit the market for Sri Lanka. The following observations were emphasized during the webinar;
Summary Article prepared by Consulate General of Sri Lanka on Important China news in major Chinese newspapers from 17.06.2020 - 16.07.2020
Miss. Chitranjali Dissanayake has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) with effect from 4th August 2020.
Bringing the best of Wellness Tourism to a domestic audience, the Sri Lanka Wellness Tourism Association (SLWTA) and the Export Development Board (EDB) concluded its third and final webinar of a tri-part series – Wellness: A New Paradigm in Sri Lankan Tourism, recently. Culminating with its final session on 10 July, a panel of high-profile industry experts comprising of Prof. Lal Chandrasena, GM, Nawaloka Hospitals; Dr. Lakith Peiris, MD, Hemas Hospitals; Dr. Shantha Godagama, President, UK Ayurvedic Medical Association; Dr. Palitha Serasinghe, Founder and Chairman of Setramed UK; Shalin Balasuriya, Co-Founder of SPA Ceylon; shared several exceptional insights, with Trevor Reckerman, Chairman, SLWTA summarising how Sri Lanka can position itself in the global wellness industry, through a well structured national action plan.
To strengthen quality and preserve originality, the Export Development Board (EDB) has kicked-off licencing of ‘Ceylon Spices’ trademark for qualifying producers, processors and exporters of cinnamon, pepper, clove, nutmeg and mace as well as cardamom.
Sri Lanka’s Wellness Tourism industry received a new impetus when the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recognized Wellness Tourism as a thrust sector under the National Export Strategy (NES) 2018-22, as the island has natural and traditional endowments that can be used to develop a sustainable Wellness Tourism industry. Ever since then, the EDB has undertaken ground-breaking initiatives to make Wellness Tourism one of the top income earners of the country.