Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
With the launch of Sri Lanka’s “National Export Strategy” (NES) in 2018, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) along with the Sri Lanka Exports Development Board (EDB) is paving the way for the country to move towards an export-led economic strategy. The ICT/ BPM sector will be a cornerstone in this overall strategy as it aims to generate USD 5 billion in export revenue, while creating 200,000 jobs and 1,000 start-ups by 2022.
Digital Infrastructure & Information Technology Minister, Ajith P. Perera, said development technology and e-government will soon be a reality in Parliament and government departments. The future will be that delays and excuses for inefficiency will no longer be tangible escape bungs that stifle progress.
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.
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.
From the series of ICT/BPM Weeks conducted by Sri Lanka Export Development Board in Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Marata followed by the roaring success of all events, EDB hosts a follow up program crafted with half-day workshop and an industry visit on 29th of January 2019 at Hatch Works (Pvt) Ltd. in the association with SLASSCOM. The main objectives of this event were to make awareness on how to do a winning pitch to market the business, how the operations happen in incubations centers and the available opportunities in the ICT sector for the Regional ICT companies.
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Sri Lanka Exports Development Board (SLEDB) are working to uplift and transform the country’s Information & Communications Technology (ICT) and Business Process Management (BPM) sector as part of its recently launched National Export Strategy (NES).
Sri Lanka, despite its size is fast becoming an emerging destination for contemporary development. Famed for its traditional exports like Pure Ceylon Tea, Apparel and praised as a tourist hotspot, this island nation is now emerging as one of the top tech destinations in the world. The country has proved the strength of a dynamic force in the business world today, playing a dominant role advancing technology and driving innovation across the world.
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
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.
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.
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.
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’.
