Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
Exports play an important role in a country’s economy as they influence the level of growth, employment and balance of payments. For Sri Lanka, the focus on exports is now more important than ever, as the island nation looks to bring in foreign currency to boost the economy.
According to Customs monthly provisional exports statistics, merchandize export earnings have recorded a historical decrease by nearly 64% to US $ 277.4 Mn from US $ 772.57 Mn documented in April 2019.
The Government should extend the financial moratorium to all exporters, as merchandise exports will be the first to bounce back after the COVID-19 crisis is controlled, a top official said.
“The moratorium on loans and interests that the Government has introduced to the apparel, tourism, IT and SME sectors should be extended to all exporters. Merchandise exports will be the first to recover and help the economy,” Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe told Daily FT.
Sri Lanka Customs has taken immediate steps to assist the exporters whose export of products have been delayed by the corona outbreak to export products that have been produced and prepared for exportation as well as goods that are essential and urgently required to be exported to respective countries.
The National Plant Quarantine Stations at the Seaport, Colombo and Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake are open to accepting samples of plants and coir products for quarantine testing and issuing of certificatio.
Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe yesterday urged that boosting exports must be everyone’s priority, as the key agency set an ambitious yet achievable target of $ 18.5 billion this year, up by 15% from 2019. EDB revealed that as per provisional data, last year Sri Lanka’s total merchandise and service exports amounted to $ 16.14 billion up by 1.44% from 2018. The composition was merchandise exports were $ 11.9 billion, up 0.13% and service exports were $ 4.2 billion, up by 5.3% from 2018. EDB originally targeted $ 18.5 billion exports for 2019, and the estimated performance reflects achievement of 87% of the goal.
The delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) together with the Export Development Board (EDB) organised the first-ever Sri Lankan pavilion at the world’s leading boat exhibition ‘Boot Show’ in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Mr.Prabhash Subasinghe, the newly appointed Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), met with the nation’s leading apparel exporters last Friday (17th) at the board premises.
The total value of merchandise exports of the country for first 11 months of 2019 was recorded at US$ 10.7 Bn according to the provisional statistics. This is a US$ 180 Mn increase in value and a 1.7% growth when compared to the similar period of the previous year.
Prabhash Subasinghe, Chairman & Chief Executive, EDB, met with the country’s leading exporters yesterday at the Board premises. Twenty-five exporters covering the country’s main export sectors attended this meeting.
The Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Shanghai, facilitated Sri Lanka’s participation in the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai, China from 5-10 November.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board organized an Export Promotional Mission to Toronto in Canada from 20 to 23 October 2019 in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate in Toronto. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka partnered under the Economic Diplomacy Program (EDP) which enabled to organize Sri Lanka Pavilion at GIC in successful manner.
The wellness pavilion at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2019 was formally inaugurated with the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony attended by H.E the High Commissioner of the Sri Lanka High Commission in UK, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Export Development Board and representatives from the participating companies of the Sri Lanka’s Wellness Tourism Industry.
