As per the instructions of the Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Export Development Board organized a meeting with the key Exporters and Investors on Friday 03rd May 2019 at the 3rd Floor Auditorium to discuss the current situation of the country.
Sri Lanka’s share in the global export market and the contribution of exports to the national GDP has been in decline whereas imports to the country is in the increase. Further exports are dependent on imported inputs therefore, it is noted that the gap between export and import has been continuously increasing.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) together with the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) commenced a series of programmes comprising workshops, seminars, etc. to enhance the capacity of selected Government Officials focussing on improving exports through innovation, research and development.
The EDB is implementing a national programme to nurture 2000 new entrepreneurs to become exporters during the period 2017 - 2022 at regional level. The main objective of this programme is to encourage domestic enterprises to invest in export industries to achieve the overall export target of US $ 28 billion in 2022. Simultaneously new entrants have gained opportunities in the international marketing experience.
The EDB has identified BioFach as one of the best places to promote Sri Lankan organic products to the EU region and other countries. EDB in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany organized a national pavilion in an area of 117 s.qm at hall no 02 which was reserved for international exhibitors and most of the EU buyers visited to this hall.
Representatives of the Lanka Fruit and Vegetable Producers, Processors and Exporters Association and Noberasco sign a memorandum of understanding in February 2019, marking the start of a partnership
2019-03-06/ http://www.ft.lk/business/National-program-to-develop-2000-new-exporters-by-the-year-2020/34-674061
The seventh seminar for the Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Mannar District entrepreneurs on the national program of developing 2000 new exporters was held on 1 March at the Vavuniya district secretariat conference hall.
Over sixty Food and Beverage exporting companies from Sri Lanka successfully participated in the 24th edition of Gulf Food 2019 trade exhibition which is considered as the world's biggest Food & Drink event held annually.The exhibition was held at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE during 17th to 21st February from 11.00am to 7.00 pm daily.The opportunity was effectively utilized for the promotion of Ceylon Tea and food related exports from Sri Lanka to the UAE and Gulf region as well as other global markets.
Government in collaboration with the private sector is in the process of setting up an operation of a Business Center for Incubators and Accelerators in the Northern region in order to develop Enterprises in the Technology Sector by youth in the Northern region.
The National Export Strategy (NES) is progressing in the right direction. It has six focused areas and is expected to provide the impetus for the export drive supporting economic growth, Chairperson of the Export Development Board (EDB), Indira Malwatte said.
UAE is blessed with a strategic location between the East and West, which makes it accessible to major emerging economies, linking shipping routes and facilitating goods' transportation between the various regions in Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa. Understanding the preciousness of the location, the business community has launched GULFOOD Food & Beverage exhibition in 1987 in Dubai and the exhibition has grown to promote F&B trade between more than 180 countries annually. In 2018 Gulfood set records with 97,000 visitors attending and over 5000 companies from over 185 different countries exhibiting their products.
2019-01-21/ http://www.dailynews.lk/2019/01/22/business/175019/edb-seeks-green-light-quarantine-authorities-china
Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has made a formal request to the Quarantine Authorities of China for obtaining quarantine clearance for in a bid to support Sri Lankan Agri-entrepreneurs in gaining new ground in China’s organic market.
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.
NOCU organized an awareness workshop for the stakeholders engaged in organic agriculture related activities to educate them on the role of NOCU and international market prospects for organic agriculture products. Workshop was held on 29th November 2018 at the EDB 3rd Floor Auditorium. This workshop was organized for Growers/Farmers, Processors, Traders, Exporters, Importers Other organic related entrepreneurs etc.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan is organising an Inward Buyer Delegation from Japan, from 3-5 December with the objective of developing business linkages between Sri Lankan companies and the Japanese buyers and to increase awareness among Sri Lankan exporters on the Japanese market.
2018-11-16/ http://www.ft.lk/business/Sri-Lanka-participates-in-China-International-Import-Expo/34-666878
Sri Lanka participated in the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai from 5-10 November 2018.</p
The Salon International de l'Agroalimentaire (SIAL) one of the largest food innovation exhibitions in the world dedicated for agri-food industry, food retail and institutional & commercial catering was held in Paris, France from 21st to 25th October 2018 with the participation of 7200 exhibitors from 110 countries representing 85% of international exhibitors and 160,000 trade visitors from 194 countries.
2018-11-02/ http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/11/02/business/167271/edb-sri-lanka-consulate-mumbai-organize-programme-smes
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India organized a Production Process Improvement and Market Penetration Programme for 10 export ready SMEs identified under 2000 New Exporters Development Programme, coinciding with “Annapoorana – World of Food India 2018” from September 26 – October 2, 2018 in Mumbai, India.
2018-10-05/ http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/10/05/business/164603/import-promotion-desk-germany-partner-edb
The Chairperson and Chief Executive, EDB Indira Malwatte together with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Germany had extremely fruitful discussions with officers from Import Promotion Desk (IPD), the German initiatives for import promotion of selected countries.
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.