Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
A 15-member delegation led by Myoung-jin Shin, Chairman and CEO of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), visited Sri Lanka earlier this month on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Embassy in South Korea and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) to explore business and investment opportunities in diverse areas.
The EDB entered into a Letter of Understanding (LoU) with the PUM Netherlands Senior Experts with a view to supporting particularly export oriented Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by obtaining services of PUM experts from mainly Europe in the areas of technology transfer, process improvement, product development, capacity building and training needs.
2017-09-07/ http://www.ft.lk/financial-services/HNB--EDB-launch-breakthrough-new-SME-Export-Credit-facility/42-639138
Sri Lanka’s most innovative bank, HNB PLC working in close collaboration with the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka (EDB) announced the launch of HNB SME Export Credit, a pioneering new facility specially designed to meet the requirements and aspirations of Sri Lanka’s burgeoning Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
2017-06-16/ http://www.ft.lk/article/622543/EDB-seminar-on-renewed-opportunities-for-entrepreneurs-to-enter-EU-market
The EDB organised a seminar in association with the Export Product Associations on ‘Renewed Opportunities in EU Market’ with the objective of making the Sri Lankan export community aware of the opportunities under the EU GSP+ concessions when exporting to European Region.
2017-06-02/ http://www.ft.lk/article/619435/Development-of-women-entrepreneurs-to-enter-international-market
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board organised a half day seminar on the theme ‘Development of Women Entrepreneurs to the International Market’ at the EDB Auditorium, Colombo 02, on 25 May with the objective of creating awareness among women entrepreneurs on business opportunities in the international market, as part of the overall program for developing 2,000 new exporters by 2020.
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.
The Government is preparing to revamp entreport schemes for re-exporting key spices from Sri Lanka including pepper, cloves, nutmeg and mace to protect Sri Lanka’s reputation for quality while banning cinnamon imports.
The proposal spearheaded by the Primary Industries Ministry has already received Cabinet approval and aims to put in place several fresh policies to ensure that spices re-exported from Colombo port are not diluted or incorrectly labelled as originating from Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's spice exports rose 40 percent to $329 million in 2013 from $ 236 million in 2012. Spice export revenue was US$ 115 million in 2009,The Export Development Board (EDB)statistics revealed.
As Sri Lanka's spice exports leaped by 40%, a new program was launched by the EDB last week to boost exports of the perennial crop. Meanwhile, a leading packaging consultant said that the Sri Lankan export packaging sector is now maturing with more ‘high barrier package’ visibility.
“The key factor is how to market our spices. Our spices are traditionally exported in bulk form. Sri Lanka now encourages value added exports and discourages raw exports.
Spice exports have recorded a 40% increase, with the key challenge being how to market Sri Lanka’s products to gain better returns, an official said yesterday.Sri Lanka’s total spice exports in 2013 stood at $ 329 million, rising by 40% from 2012’s $ 236 million. Last year’s spice exports revenue were also a leap of more than 100% from 2009’s $ 115 million, Export Development Board Chairman Bandula Egodage told companies at the first national packaging awareness seminar.
In response to a longstanding cry by the spices and allied exporters, action is now underway to obtain the Geographical Indication (GI) for Ceylon cinnamon and other allied products of which the geographical origin and its possessed qualities will be identified with a unique sign in the international market place.
Among other local authorities, the World Trade Organization (WTO), one of the protectors of GIs at international level has already agreed to assist Sri Lanka in providing technical support and a common front for commodities has expressed its willingness to fund the project. “The ministry and the National Intellectual Property office of Sri Lanka are directly involved with this operation with the Export Development Board (EDB) with the assistance of Spices and Allied Products Producers’ and Traders’ Association (SAPPTA),” said the Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardena addressing SAPPTA’s 30th annual general meeting.
Cinnamon could be a secret weapon in the battle against Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have found that the spice is the source of a chemical that can protect the brain.
Our liver converts cinnamon into sodium benzoate, an approved drug used in the treatment for neural disorders.
In a study of mice at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, a team of researchers found that the chemical then enters the brain, stops the loss of proteins that help protect cells, protects neurons and improves motor functions.
The Fadna Cinnamon Tea, produced and distributed by Food and Nature Company was recently awarded the Pure Ceylon Cinnamon Quality certificate by Sri Lanka Export Development Board. This certification which is awarded only for highest quality export products is granted on the recommendation of a committee of experts appoined by the SLEDB. Here Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen awards the certificate to the Marketing Manager of the Food and Nature Company, Udara Mangala at a ceremony at the SLEDB
Just a day after unveiling cinnamon logo licenses, Sri Lanka’s exporters heaped praise on the Government and the Export Development Board for the latest national initiative towards their sector on 8 April. “We are proud to have won this Pure Ceylon Cinnamon logo. To the global markets, this symbol shows where true cinnamon originates from. The EDB has really come out with it!” said an upbeat Priyadarshani Halpe, General Manager, G.P. de Silva & Sons International Ltd.
Halpe, one among many exporters who expressed similar sentiments, was speaking about the ‘Inaugural issuance of Pure Ceylon Cinnamon brand licenses to Lankan exporters’ event held at EDB Auditorium, Colombo on 7 April.
As Sri Lanka’s first batch of exporters successfully captured their licences to officially flavour the world with Sri Lanka’s second global brand yesterday, the country recommitted to $ 1 billion in spice and cinnamon exports by 2020.
“Today, nine Sri Lankan cinnamon export firms are empowered by this initiative. Together, these nine firms claim more than 25% of our annual cinnamon export values. We are aiming at $ 1 billion in spice and cinnamon exports by 2020,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday, addressing the ‘Inaugural issuance of Pure Ceylon Cinnamon brand licenses to Lankan exporters event’ at the EDB Auditorium.
In yet another important industry support initiative in the tradition of Export Development Board for Lankan exporters, for the first time, nine Sri Lankan cinnamon export firms qualifying to export cinnamon using ‘Pure Ceylon Cinnamon brand license’ were awarded license certificates by Bathiudeen at the event. The qualifying exporters in the first batch were A Baur & Co Ltd., Casa Canela Ltd., Dtriangle Ltd, Food & Nature Ltd., G.P. De Silva & Sons International Ltd., Intercom Ltd., International Commodity Traders Ltd., Mohksha Ltd. and Rathna Producers Cinnamon Exports Ltd.
The issuing of license for eligible exporters to use the Pure Ceylon cinnamon logo on cinnamon packs will be held at Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) auditorium on 07th Monday.
The SLEDB recently requested pure Ceylon cinnamon manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka that wish to use pure Ceylon Cinnamon Lion Logo on cinnamon packs to forward completed applications in respect of each product design to the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.
Applications were called from companies eager to use Pure Ceylon Cinnamon Lion Logo on the cinnamon packs. The companies who are eager to use the pure Ceylon cinnamon lion logo on cinnamon packs will have to obtain prior approval from the Export Development Board.
Ceylon Cinnamon, which is Sri Lanka’s second global brand, has secured its trademark in two more leading markets-with one more country application in the registration process. ”I commend the EDB’s Agro division for their efforts on this initiative” said Bandula Egodage (Chairman/CEO, EDB) on 27 February in Colombo.
Chairman Egodage was addressing the monthly review meeting of EDB last week when he was informed by EDB’s agro division of the latest development on Ceylon Cinnamon.
Ceylon Cinnamon, which is Sri Lanka’s second global brand, has secured its trademark in two more leading markets-with one more country application in the registration process. "I commend the EDB’s Agro division for their efforts on this initiative" said Bandula Egodage (Chairman/CEO, EDB).
Chairman Egodage was addressing the monthly review meeting of EDB on February 27 when he was informed by EDB’s agro division of the latest development on Ceylon Cinnamon.
Senior Minister for International Monetary Co-operation Dr. Sarath Amunugama has proposed to make it mandatory for Sri Lanka's cinnamon exporters to adhere to the specifications for Sri Lanka standard for exporting of cinnamon.
The proposed measure is aimed at preventing the export of low quality cinnamon and enhancing the production of cinnamon in the country sustaining the livelihood of more than 350,000 families engaged in the industry, the government says.
