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World Export Development Forum 2016 to tackle pressing topics in regional and global trade

2016-08-22

World Export Development Forum 2016 to tackle pressing topics in regional and global trade

The 16th edition of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) will see global business leaders, policy makers and heads of trade discuss issues ranging from transitioning trade environments, transparency and traceability to business strategies and trade policies across the world.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) together with the International Trade Centre (ITC) announced the finalised agenda of the two-day conference themed ‘Trade for Success: Connect, Compete, Change’, scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 October.

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Govt. is revitalising Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness: Malik

2016-08-11

Govt. is revitalising Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness: Malik

Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama on Tuesday declared that the Government was revitalising Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness with a host of far-reaching initiatives.

He offered this outlook during his presentation at the Presidential Export Awards ceremony. Following are excerpts.

It is my pleasure to be here this afternoon and to address you at this Presidential Awards ceremony. Let me also thank His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena our President, who will be with us shortly, in spite of his very busy schedule. This clearly confirms His Excellency’s commitment to assisting and encouraging our exporters.


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High-profile-list-of-international-speakers-to-take-the-stage-at-WEDF-2016

2016-08-08

High-profile-list-of-international-speakers-to-take-the-stage-at-WEDF-2016

President Maithripala Sirisena and Minister of Development and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama will lead the line-up of high-profile speakers including policy makers, trade experts, trade analysts and global business leaders, set to speak at the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 October in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) together with the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka, through the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), organises the global summit. ITC Executive Director Arancha Gonzalez will also take the stage on the opening day of the event together with the President of Sri Lanka, to start off the two-day event.


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EDB’s 20th Presidential Export Awards on 9 August

2016-08-04

EDB’s 20th Presidential Export Awards on 9 August

The 20th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) will be held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena on 9 August commencing at 3 p.m. at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

The Presidential Export Awards (PEA) initiated by EDB in 1981 is the most prestigious award for exports in Sri Lanka and is presented to exporters who have made a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s exports.

This year’s ceremony will recognise and salute the exporters for their excellence in the years 2014 and 2015 and the awards symbolise the national recognition of the exporters, particularly in non-traditional products and services.

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FACETS International Gem and Jewellery Show in September

2016-08-03

FACETS International Gem and Jewellery Show in September

The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association announced the approach of the 26th edition of ‘FACETS’ Sri Lanka’s foremost annual International Gem and Jewelry Show.

Established in 1991 with the patronage of the state and private sectors, the show has become the pinnacle event in the industry calendar. To be held at the BMICH from September 1-4.

FACETS will be held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena who will grace the event.

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Sri Lanka Plast 2016 exhibition kicks off on Friday

2016-08-03

Sri Lanka Plast 2016 exhibition kicks off on Friday

Sri Lanka Plast 2016, the main exhibition with focus on plastics processing and Rubexpo  focused on manufacturing of rubber related products and services is scheduled to take place from 5 to 7 August at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.

This would be the third edition of the event taking place in Sri Lanka which is organised by Enterprising Fairs (India) Ltd. The event will be organised together with The Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL) and supported by Ministry of Industry and Commerce Sri Lanka, Export Development Board (EDB), Industrial Development Board (IDB) and the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka promotes pharmaceutical exports

2016-07-31

Sri Lanka promotes pharmaceutical exports

Pharmaceutical exports from Sri Lanka in the future are expected to surpass earnings of tea export revenue, reports sundaytimes.lk.  This was revealed at a media briefing convened in connection with the launching of a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing project at the the Koggala Export Processing Zone.

The largest state of the art Pharmaceutical Manufacturing plant will be set up at the Koggala Export Processing Zone with an investment of US Dollars 30 million to dispense quality drugs to needy Sri Lankans at an affordable price and for export purposes.

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Swedish trade delegation adds to growing momentum ahead of WEDF 2016

2016-07-25

Swedish trade delegation adds to growing momentum ahead of WEDF 2016

Strengthening the gathering momentum ahead of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2016, to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 12th and 13th of October, a trade delegation representing Sweden has confirmed their participation. The two-day summit heralded to be an unprecedented benchmark for the export industry of the country, is organised collaboratively by the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Participation of the Swedish delegation was confirmed at a meeting between Secretary General Leif Ivan Ohlson of the Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council headquartered in Stockholm, with  EDBChairperson  Indira Malwatte, held last week.

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Top local corporates partnering with EDB to stage World Export Development Forum 2016

2016-07-18

Top local corporates partnering with EDB to stage World Export Development Forum 2016

Sujeewa Senasinghe, State Minister of International Trade together with Anura de Silva, State Secretary of the State Ministry of International Trade and Indira Malwatte, chairperson and Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), welcomed on-board key sponsors and partners of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2016 at a press conference held at the EDB recently. Fazal Mushin – WEDF 2016 co-chairman also present for the proceedings.

DFCC Bank PLC - Exclusive Banking Partner for the event, and Brandix- Exclusive Apparel Partner representing Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, handed over the sponsorship pledges to State Minister Senasinghe. Both organizations are Platinum Sponsors of the event.

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EDB Chairperson Indira Malwatte 1st Sri Lankan woman to receive WIFTS lifetime achievement award

2016-07-05

EDB Chairperson Indira Malwatte 1st Sri Lankan woman to receive WIFTS lifetime achievement award

WIFTS Foundation International Visionary Awards 2016 was held at the Millennium Hotel in London UK among a distinguished gathering of international women achievers on 2 July. The Women’s International Film and Television Showcase (WIFTS) is an organisation dedicated to bringing women together from all walks of life through the art form of film and television, business, the humanities and the environment.

The 2016 WIFTS Lifetime Award for Business and Economics was awarded to Indira Malwatte who holds the key post of Chairperson and Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), a vital role in the world business stage. Indira has committed nearly 40 years of her life to export development and promotions both in the state and private sector locally and internationally, with many achievements to her career. The Government of Sri Lanka, considering her unique talents and hands-on experience in the state and private sectors, appointed her as the first female to hold EDB’s top position and to lead Sri Lanka’s export drive in very challenging times.

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Govt. engages diplomatic corps to make World Export Development Forum a bigger success

2016-06-30

Govt. engages diplomatic corps to make World Export Development Forum a bigger success

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the diplomatic community consisting of commercial counsellors and honorary consuls of foreign missions to Sri Lanka for a briefing on the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2016 to be held in Colombo on 12-13 October.  

The meeting was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harsha De Silva, State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) Chairperson and Chief Executive Indira Malwatte.

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Sri Lanka earns over Rs. 11 billion in 2015 from exports of locally manufactured boats

2016-06-28

Sri Lanka earns over Rs. 11 billion in 2015 from exports of locally manufactured boats

Sri Lanka's Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera says the locally manufactured boats currently has a high demand in the international market.

According to the Minister, during the past years, Sri Lanka has earned a massive amount of foreign exchange from exportation of boats and vessels. In 2014, Sri Lanka earned Rs. 11.48 billion and Rs. 11.2 billion in 2015 from the vessel exports.

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Large Section Of Tourists Beach-Based

2016-06-26

Large Section Of Tourists Beach-Based

With a large section of Sri Lanka’s tourism being beach-based, the industry in the island nation requires pleasure sail boats and boats for sea excursions for whale/dolphin watching, leisure fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, etc. This was highlighted at a session held last week to announce the Boat Show & Fisheries Exhibition Sri Lanka 2016 scheduled to take place from October 13 to 15 at the Dickowita Fishery Harbour, Colombo.

It was also noted that Sri Lanka has a coastal shore-line of 1,340kms and a large inland water mass consisting of lagoons, lakes, reservoirs etc. There are 13 major fishery harbours, 15 anchorages and 1,053 landing sites on the coastal belt. However, the full potential of the ocean is yet to be utilized and ideal water front lands for development of marinas and boat yards are available around the island.

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World Export Development Forum creates opportunity for PPP’s

2016-06-07

World Export Development Forum creates opportunity for PPP’s

With the recent launch of the WEDF 2016 to be held in Sri Lanka in October, the EDB has taken a bold step towards creating a true sense of the word of Public, Private Partnership.

Several leading professionals who have been invited from national chambers and product associations to steer various “action groups” have been appointed to head six different Committees tasked to map strategies and plan  all aspects of arrangements to successfully hold the 2 day conclave which is the 16th edition of the WEDF.

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Registration & Authorization of foreign slaughterhouse and Manufactures of other animal products under Saudi Food and Drug Authority

2016-05-31

Registration & Authorization of foreign slaughterhouse and Manufactures of other animal products under Saudi Food and Drug Authority

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and has the honour to inform the esteemed Ministry that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has started to register and authorize Foreign Slaughterhouses, Manufactures of  meat, poultry and fish products as well as the Production Facilities of all kind of other Food items which interested to exports their products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Poland keen on more trade links with Lanka

2016-05-25

Poland keen on more trade links with Lanka

The Export Development Board discussed B2B arrangements for the Polish trade delegation to Sri Lanka attending the World Export Development Forum in October 2016

The discussion centered on the Polish participation at the World Export Forum to be held in Colombo in October this year. The Ambassador said that he is very keen on bringing down a large delegation for the event and to organise an objective driven B2B meeting programme for the delegation.

Sri Lanka is well known as a tourist destination and for its quality tea she said.He also emphasised the need for engagement in other prospective areas. Poland is keen to look in to both trade and investment prospectives the Ambassador said.

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Legalization fees of export documents will be charged by the Sri Lankan Rupees

2016-05-20

Legalization fees of export documents will be charged by the Sri Lankan Rupees

The Embassy of Republic of Iraq in Colombo presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs of the Democratic Socialistic Republic of Sri Lanka, and has the honour to refer to the Embassy Note No. 12/01/2016 dated 25th January 2016, regarding the legalization fees of export documents charge by the Embassy.

The Embassy wishes to inform the esteemed Ministry that the legalization fees of export documents will be charged by Sri Lanka Rupees with effect from 16th May 2016.

The Embassy of Republic of Iraq in Colombo avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs of the democrotic Socialistic Republic of Sri Lanka the assurances of its highest consideration.


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Sri Lanka slashes tax on raw rubber exports

2016-05-18

Sri Lanka slashes tax on raw rubber exports

The Sri Lankan government will slash a cess on raw rubber exports to Rs4 a kilo from Rs15 to help cultivators get better prices by increasing competition between shippers and the domestic industry, a spokesman said.

Media Minister Gayantha Karunatillake said about 80 percent of natural rubber grown in the island is consumed by domestic industrialists and the rest exported.

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Sri Lanka, Germany ties get significant boost

2016-05-17

Sri Lanka, Germany ties get significant boost

Sri Lanka’s efforts to liberalise its economy and encouraging of a solid basis to establish close business to business (B2B) contacts are crucial to countries looking to expand investment opportunities, believes Uwe Beckmayer, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany.

“Sri Lanka now has a very stable Government which envisages on new economic base of good governance with reliable conditions to make new businesses, which is very important to attract investments to the country,” he said addressing the Business forum and B2B meeting held with the German business delegation hosted by the Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka yesterday.


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High-level delegation here from German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

2016-05-12

High-level delegation here from German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Uwe Beckmeyer, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, will visit Sri Lanka from 15-17 May accompanied by a large business delegation. This is a follow-up to the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to Berlin in February this year.

The growing political and business relations between Germany and Sri Lanka, prompted an official visit by Beckmeyer, thus showcasing Sri Lanka’s potential with Europe’s largest economy.

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