Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
Sri Lanka’s merchandise and service exports in 2018 are estimated to have hit an all-time high of $ 17 billion, up 15% from a year earlier prompting the Government to be confident of achieving the $20 billion milestone this year.
At the recently held APICTA 2018, Sri Lanka won 3 Gold Awards and was also able to secure 7 Merit awards. In addition to that, Sri Lanka also emerged as the third highest achiever in the awards tally at APICTA 2018 as well. APICTA or the Asia Pacific Information Communication and Technology Alliance is an association of national ICT organizations representing their respective economies.
INFOTEL 2018, the biggest and most prestigious Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exhibition in Sri Lanka and the whole of South Asia organized by FITIS (Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka), was held from 02nd to 04th November, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo for the 17th consecutive year. INFOTEL 2018, themed “Towards a Digital Economy”, is aligned with the national priorities of enhancing the digital infrastructure of the country for facilitating a digitally empowered ecosystem while improving the Citizens’ engagement in a digital society. Throughout the three days, thousands of local and foreign visitors were taken part in the exhibition.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), as the apex organization for promoting exports, has identified the Health/Wellness Tourism sector as a key focus sector in terms of foreign exchange earnings and as a key sector in the National Export Strategy (NES). There is a clear synergy between global trends and Sri Lanka’s traditional health approaches. The country has natural and traditional endowments that can be used to foster a sustainable wellness tourism value chain that is deeply rooted in local communities and traditions. The growing interest in and demand for wellness services is a favorable global trend for the development of this industry in Sri Lanka. Many countries and destinations are defining themselves as wellness tourism destinations but most do not have Sri Lanka’s rich cultural and wellness lifestyle based heritage. The Average spending of a wellness traveler is around US$ 250 which is far beyond the spending of a general tourist or backpackers.
The 22nd Presidential Export Awards Ceremony was held to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Exporters at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, on September 18, 2018, under the patronage of His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena the President of Sri Lanka.
Following is the address by Minister Malik Samarawickrama at the Presidential Export Awardson 18 September
2018-08-28/ http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/EDB-relaunches-start-up-project-to-support-IT-BPM-industry-to-reach-US-bn-export-target-154629.html
The Export Development Board (EDB) on 27-08-2018 announced the relaunch of the ‘1000 start-up’ initiative, an effort taken towards diversifying Sri Lanka’s export basket and market.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka and Business France today. (13 July 2018)
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in association with the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Department of Commerce and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board will be organising Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2018 from 19 to 21 June for the third consecutive year at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Shippers’ Academy Colombo (SAC) in association with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has launched a new corporate quiz for the ExIm & Logistics Trophy for the first time.
2018-02-06/ http://www.ft.lk/business/Highlights-of-Sri-Lanka-Singapore-FTA-which-makes-watershed--in-Sri-Lankan-economy/34-648827
On 23 January, Sri Lanka marked a significant watershed in the development of its economy when it signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore after 18 months of negotiations between the trade negotiation teams of both countries.
2017-10-30/ http://www.ft.lk/it-telecom-tech/EDB-participates-in-Intergovernmental-Group-of-Experts-on-E-Commerce-and-the-Digital-Economy/50-642443
Information and communications technologies (ICTs) are playing an increasingly important role in the implementation of the digitalisation of economic activities and trade which can support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalisation and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to ICT-enabled financial services.
2017-10-25/ http://www.ft.lk/top-story/World-Export-Development-Forum-kicks-off-in-Hungary-today/26-642182
The 2017 edition of the annual World Export Development Forum (WEDF) kicks off today in Budapest, Hungary under the theme ‘Trade – A Force for Good: Include, Innovate, Integrate’.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organised a half day seminar on ‘Digital Doors to Trade’ for Sri Lankan exporters to create awareness on Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C) digital trade platforms. The seminar was held recently at the EDB Auditorium with the participation more than 125 people.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) with the assistance of Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Information Technology Services Industry Association (JISA) is organising a seminar on Sri Lanka IT in Tokyo on 9 May and participating at Japan IT Week 2017 from 10-12 May at Tokyo big sight, Japan.
2017-04-12/ http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Development-Strategies-Ministry-and-EDB-conduct-symposium-on-NES--127115.html
The Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) conducted the first national symposium for Sri Lanka’s National Export Strategy (NES) with more than 150 public and private sector representatives to plan the next export growth cycle of the country.
2017-04-11/ http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Development-Strategies-Ministry-and-EDB-conduct-symposium-on-NES--127115.html
Following is the message by Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, delivered to mark Sri Lanka’s First National Export Strategy Symposium held at the Temple Trees.
Sri Lanka’s surging construction sector is not only an indicator of economic health, but also an integrator of an important economic layer, meaning that following international standards in the construction sector could help the country’s ‘Hub Status’ journey, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said yesterday.
“The construction sector claims only 7.3% of our GDP. However, the sector is much more important than these numbers would indicate. There is a strong SME presence in this sub-sector,” the minister expressed.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the International Exhibition on Windows and Doors, Aluminium Extrusion, Roofing and Façade, Glass and the 2nd International Exhibition on Sri Lanka Wood at BMICH.
“Professional service exports present a tremendous opportunity and can speed up government’s ‘$20B exports by 2020’ goal. Medical Tourism is one of the most promising sub-sectors in this. We are ready to work with any and all stakeholders to get this off the ground” said Director General, EDB, Sujatha Weerakoone addressing the kick-off session of EDB's 2015-20 National Masterplan Initiative on Medical Tourism held at EDB last week.
The pioneering session saw top reps from Hemas Hospitals, Asiri Group of Hospitals, Lanka Hospitals, Durdans Hospital, Nawaloka Hospitals PLC, the Health Ministry as well as M.K.S.K Maldeniya (ICT Sector Director-EDB) joining the session. The private sector reps also represent Sri Lanka’s Private Hospital Association (PHA).
