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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Belgium, together with the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) promoted Ceylon tea, Sri Lanka spices and coconut-based products at the 8th edition of the INTRAFOOD trade fair in Kotrijk, Belgium on 27 to 28 October 2021.
Sri Lanka’s merchandize exports in September 2021 recorded US$ 995.8 Mn as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs.
Sri Lanka’s merchandize exports in August 2021 recorded an increase of 14.4 % to US$ 1,083.56 Mn as compared to US$ 947.2 Mn recorded in August 2020 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is planning to hold the 24rh 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.
Sri Lanka’s exports have surpassed the $ 1 billion mark in July after four months’ time period where the similar achievement was only recorded in March during this year.
A webinar on ‘Finding a Market for Agri Products in EU’ with a special focus on organic markets, organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany in collaboration with the Import Promotion Desk of Germany and Export Development Board of Sri Lanka was held on 29 July, with over 200 participants across large to SME Agri sector exporters.
The Export Development Board (EDB) raised concerns on the shortage of containers as a result of multiple global supply chain bottlenecks.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou and the Department of Commerce of Fujian successfully organized the Fujian, China - Sri Lanka Economic & Trade Forum and Matchmaking event on 28th July 2021 via “video conference + web cast”.
