Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
Despite global and local challenges, Sri Lanka’s merchandised and service exports have risen by 11.4% to $ 8.5 billion in the first half of this year, prompting the Government to attribute it to a series of development efforts and assure further support. Releasing the latest yet provisional data, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said yesterday that export sector performance was commendable, though he admitted there is significant scope for higher value. “The 11.4% growth, despite the impact of the October 2018 undemocratic constitutional coup, and the Easter Sunday tragedy, as well as global challenges, is very satisfactory. For the first time, three months of first half of 2019 - January, March and June - have produced over $ 1 billion worth of merchandised exports. We had originally set an ambitious $ 20 billion target for 2019, but we may miss it and end up at around $ 18.5 billion, which will be still higher than the $ 16 billion achieved last year,” Samarawickrama said.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has been conducting the Exporters’ Forum since its inception from late 70s. The EDB has identified the need of a common platform to discuss and resolve the issues faced by the exporter community in Sri Lanka in order to facilitate exporters to overcome constraints arising from policy and operational issues created by various institutes that regulate, operate, and facilitate cross border trade. The EDB as the nation’s prime institute to facilitate export development created this mechanism to enable exporters to submit their issues to the highest levels of state institutions that cannot be reached easily by a trader. The unique feature of the Exporters’ Forum is the participation of the private sector and the public sector to resolve issues, with the political leadership represented by the relevant minister together with direct ministry-level interventions providing solutions to address those issues.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is planning to hold the 23rd Presidential Export Awards Ceremony under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena on 19 September at the BMICH
Transforming Sri Lanka into the hub of the Indian Ocean, with a knowledge-based, highly competitive and social-market economyis the objective of the Vision 2025 policy document of the Government.Making the transistion to anexport, FDI and tourism orientedcountry is the only optionfor Sri Lanka to create better jobs for the youth of our country and to graduate to a higher income economy.
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.
The World Expo is one of the oldest and largest international events taking place every 5 years and lasting for 6 month where everyone can learn, innovate and create progress by sharing ideas and working together through a common theme. United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as the host country for the forthcoming event to be held in year 2020. This World Expo will be held for a period of six months from 20th October 2020 to 10th April 2021 in Dubai under the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. The World Expo in Dubai in 2020 will be the first to be held in the MENA & SA (Middle East and North Africa & South Asia Region.
Sri Lanka needs to make greater efforts to get into the US market using the United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) scheme as a tool while ensuring that buyers are aware of GSP, said Dr. Fredrik Leuhusen from the School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
2019-01-24/ http://www.ft.lk/business/The-Footwear-and-Leather-Fair-2019-kicks-off-on-Friday-at-BMICH/34-671535
Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Co-operative Development Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will ceremoniously declare open the Footwear and Leather Fair 2019 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre, BMICH premises, Colombo, at 10 am on Friday, 25 January, in the presence of the distinguished gathering, which will include participants from India, China, Pakistan and Singapore.
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 $20 billion milestone this year.
2018-12-27/ www.ft.lk/business/Enhancing-capabilities-of-footwear-industry-to-maximise-benefits-under-int-l-trading-arrangements/34-669602
The Footwear and Leather sector has been identified as a potential sector by way of creating employment opportunities and earning and saving foreign exchange earnings. Since the local market is limited, exports are essential for the sustainability of the industry. This industry clearly has a significant potential for being a key contributor to the economy of the country, if empowered by appropriate support and guidance. At Present the footwear and Leather industry and its supporting industries including marketing chain employs around 250,000 people directly and indirectly. Sri Lanka’s exports of this sector was US$ 131.38 million and exports to EU was US$ 38.52 million in 2017.
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
2018-05-16/ http://www.ft.lk/business/EDB-awareness-program-for-Southern-Province-entrepreneurs-to-establish-2-000-exporters-by-2020/34-655151
Sri Lanka Export Development Board organised an awareness program for the entrepreneurs of the Southern Province on the national program to establish 2,000 new exporters. The program was held at the Sanaya Hotel, Matara on Friday, 11 May.
2018-03-09/ http://www.ft.lk/special-report/Australian-HC-calls-for-gender-equality--empowerment-in-SL/22-650848
As Sri Lanka posts one of the lowest female workforce participation rates of any comparable country, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Bryce Hutchesson yesterday called on all stakeholders to promote gender equality and empowerment to unleash the potential of women in business
2017-10-28/ http://www.ft.lk/front-page/Large-Lankan-private-sector-delegation-at-WEDF-in-Budapest/44-642324
Central Europe’s first ever World Export Development Forum (WEDF) in Hungary this week has drawn a large Sri Lankan private sector delegation put together by the Export Development Board.
2017-07-24/ www.lankabusinessonline.com/travel-goods-from-sri-lanka-to-receive-duty-free-entry-to-us/
Export of travel-related products from Sri Lanka will enjoy duty free entry to the United States following a decision by the US administration to approve the inclusion of travel goods from all GSP beneficiary countries, including Sri Lanka, in the expanded US GSP scheme on July 1, 2017.
Sri Lankan manufactured Footwear exports have doubled during the year 2013, compared 2012, a new study conducted by the Ceylon Chamber has revealed.
According to the study titled ‘Footwear Exports and Imports of Sri Lanka – Statistical Analysis’, which covers the periods of 2006 to 2013, Australia and Italy ranks as the main export markets for Sri Lankan footwear.
The Footwear & Leather fair 2014 was ceremonially inaugurated by Hon Basil Rajapaksa Minister of Economic Development. Hon Rishard Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry & Commerce, Hon Lakshman Wasantha Perera, Deputy Minister of Industry & Commerce and Hon. Weerakumara Dissanayaka, Deputy Minister of Traditional industries & Small Enterprise Development were the Guests of honor at this event. Large gathering of diplomats form countries namely Iraq, Italy, Vietnam, Netherlands, Iran, Nigeria, Indonesia, Turkey, India, France, European Union, Libya, Romania, Cuba, Malaysia and Germany was presented at the opening ceremony.
