Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
The first ever series of international MoUs to blossom under Sri Lanka’s new consensual government are scheduled to go live tomorrow 23 August in Colombo-and the historic pacts are centred around none other than Sri Lanka’s global trade. “Sri Lanka EDB is proud to host the 28th CEO meeting of the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) in Colombo. ATPF has honoured Sri Lanka by bringing this series to Colombo for the first time in its history” said Bandula Egodage (Chairman & CEO of EDB) on 21 August.
Sri Lanka's apex export facilitator EDB has clinched a top global talent award and has also emerged as a pioneer Lankan public institution to win the coveted accolade, as revealed on 16 August.
"The EDB has won Asia's Best Employer Brand Awards 2015 as recognition for the valuable contribution made by it to be the Most Sought After Employer. I am pleased to say that we won this award having competed with 33 countries," said Bandula Egodage, Chairman and CEO-EDB.
The second edition of international conference on Fisheries and Aquaculture exhibition 2015 organized by the International Institute of Knowledge Management will be held from August 25 - 26, 2015 at Hotel Galadari.
The conference is co-hosted by World Aquaculture Society, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency and Export Development Board.
Sri Lanka’s historic coconut based exports received a new lease of life on 4 August as a top Japanese coop-federation – also considered as a leading agro association in the world – started directly partnering with apex export entity, the EDB to strengthen the surging sector. The Lankan coconut sector is getting another international breakthrough with the first ever Lankan coco peat delegation scheduled to leave for Japan this October, facilitated by EDB. “We welcome Japan Zen-Noh’s assistance. It is time to focus on value added coco peat and other coconut based exports,” stressed EDB Chairman and CEO Bandula Egodage on 4 August in Colombo. Egodage was addressing the visiting four-member delegation from Japan Zen-Noh (Japanese National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations) who arrived to begin their Lankan partnership through coco-peat export product support – in that the visiting team has commenced their technical consultancy to develop coco peat products in Sri Lanka to identify constraints in production of coco peat, obtain technical consultancy to overcome problems, create awareness of Lankan coco peat industry to Japanese buyers, introduce Sri Lanka to Japan as a capable and reliable supplier of coco peat and promote Sri Lankan coco peat in Japan through Zen-Noh.
Sri Lanka’s largest gem and jewellery Facets 2015 will pave the way for local gem and jewellery dealers to showcase their products for international markets.
This will also enable small players in the industry to enter into the international arena. “We are expecting over a 10,000 participants this year throughout the four days of the exhibition. A large number of buyers from China have confirmed whilst over 100 international buyer delegation are expected to attend the show from several countries, Chairman Facets Sri Lanka Juzar Adamaly to the media conference held at Cinnamon Grand hotel. The event will be hosted by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and the SME pavilion from the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB)
Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Rajitha Senaratne, stressed the need for proper documentation and scientific evidence to exist within the practice of native alternative medicine in order for it to be shipped to international markets.
Just as Sri Lanka vies for China’s booming export market, imports from China-and Sri Lanka is an ‘important location’ in China’s strategic Silk Road Economic Belt project and China’s new “World Bank”, as revealed by Xiong Yan (Director-Yunnan Daily Press Group International Communication Center) on 02 July in Colombo..”Sri Lanka is an important link in China’s $40 Bn Silk Road Economic Belt, which is a mutually beneficial project for both Sri Lanka and China. We also are pleased of Sri Lanka joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) this June” he further said.
Private sector firms participating in the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the five-day China South Asia Expo in Kunming are upbeat of prospects. They expressed their confidence to reach more Chinese investors and buyers in a greater way through the event being held at Kunming Dianchi International Convention & Exhibition Centre. This year the Sri Lanka Pavilion has over 120 companies as well as five Government institutions and the participation is facilitated by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.
As Sri Lankan annual apparel exports closed in on the crucial $5 Bn mark, South America’s largest apparel market was given a preview of Lankan fashion when the Brazil International Apparel Sourcing Show 2015 (BIAS 2015) opened in Sao Paulo on 27 May.
Sri Lanka investing just 0.5 million dollars on the stall that was given at gratis by the Italian Government on the request of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The country pavilions such as Nepal, Malaysia and Thailand that has spent 20 million dollars has attracted over a 30,000 visitors in the first month of visibility, said the Pavilion Director, Dammika Jayawardena from Milano, Italy.
Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish sector is basking in the glow of international spotlight having bagged many top awards for its diversity-and O-Fish sector is one of highest return on investment sectors, as revealed on 03 June in Colombo.
Sri Lanka's gem and jewellery export revenue will surge this year following the enormous exposure the country received at the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) Congress held recently in Sri Lanka, Chairman, Facets Sri Lanka, Juzar Adamaly said on the sidelines of the 16th Congress at the Cinnamon Grand recently.
He said a large number of buyers and dealers across the world at the Congress were highly impressed with the country and the range of exquisite products it offers to the global market. It is premature to put a figure but certainly export revenue will spike within a month or two.
In the back drop of the 1.3 million dollar deal wrapped by Sri Lanka Tourism in the launch month of Expo 2015, Sri Lanka Export Development Board took the high ground in month two to announce a global endorsement to Sri Lanka backed by two power bases in global trade which gives perspective to Expo 2015 for Sri Lanka's 75 billion dollar economy growing at a seven percent GDP growth said commissioner General Expo- Sri Lanka Rohantha Athukorala.
I am very much impressed by the democratic process of Sri Lanka displayed after January 8. It's a unique event and a very good start and passing of the 19th Amendment, shows the spirit of reform is very much alive in Sri Lanka. We, the Swiss, would like to support this Lankan reform spirit," said Swiss Ambassador to Sri Lanka Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn on May 13, in Colombo.
Swiss Ambassador Nederkoorn was addressing the first ever Swiss - Sri Lanka Round table Business Discussion held at the EDB on May 13.
Earnings from exports increased by 5.8 per cent, year-on-year, to US dollars 891 million in February 2015, led by industrial products, particularly textiles and garments.
Earnings from industrial exports, which represent about 77 per cent of total exports, improved mainly due to increase in exports of textiles and garments followed by petroleum products, and gems, diamonds and jewellery.
The ninth Indian Trade Fair was opened on Thursday (07) at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, under the patronage of the Acting High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka Arindam Bagchi and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Champika Premadasa.
Sri Lanka’s metal manufacturing and exports have clinched a sudden breakthrough, thanks to a global foundry giant whose historic roots extend back to 1930s Birmingham. The adoption of international best practices can increase revenues of overall Lankan foundry sector by a substantial 30%.
“Despite many constraints, our light engineering sector has been bringing increased export revenues to Sri Lanka. A study has been done and it pointed to tech and skill gaps prevalent in the industry – and fixing them are crucial,” said EDB Director General Sujatha Weerakoone on 24 April at the Industrial Park, Ekala.
For the first time in the recent history of Sri Lanka top four Chairman of the public sector driving brand Sri Lanka in the global arena met in unison to power the country at World Expo 2015- which is termed globally as the most visited and watched event next to the Olympics.
Sri Lanka government will participate in the universal exposition "World Expo 2015". "Expo Milano 2015" World Trade Fair that will be held from 1st May to 31 October 2015, at World Avenue and Biodiversity Park in Milan, Italy with the objective of promoting Trade and Tourism.
The participation consist of Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tea Board, National Gem & Jewellery Authority, National Crafts Council, Department of Commerce together with Sri Lanka Tourism under the auspicious of Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
