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EASL felicitates new EDB Chairman, hands over ‘Export Strategy Document’

2016-01-08

EASL felicitates new EDB Chairman, hands over ‘Export Strategy Document’

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, an affiliate of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, recently presented a strategy document to Indira Malwatte, Chairperson of the Export Development Board, outlining the issues faced by the exporters.

The document was handed over during a felicitation ceremony held by the EASL to Indira Malwatte, who was recently appointed as the new Chairperson of the EDB.

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Two IT parks for Pallekele and Achchuveli on the cards

2016-01-04

Two IT parks for Pallekele and Achchuveli on the cards

Sri Lanka would set two IT parks in Pallekele Export Processing Zone and the Achchuveli Industrial Zone Jaffna said Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama.

Speaking to employees of the Board of Investment(BOI), Department of Mahapola Trust, Department of Import and Exports and Export Development Board (EDB) last Friday he said that in addition new economic zones would be set up in Hambantota, Kuliyapitiya, Kilinochchi, Meerigama, Trincomalee and Avissawella. The existing zones in Kandy (Pallekele) and Mirigama would be redeveloped.

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EDB help for construction firms to expand overseas

2015-12-17

EDB help for construction firms to expand overseas

Sri Lanka Exports Development Board (EDB) will step up efforts to facilitate local construction companies to expand their services in Myanmar, EDB Chairperson and CEO Indira Malwatte said.

Under this initiative, the government hopes to employ more Sri Lankan engineers, quantity surveyors, graduates and others in the overseas construction services sector.

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President vows fullest support to boost exporters

2015-12-17

President vows fullest support to boost exporters

Putting a personal touch on efforts to bolster Sri Lanka’s exports President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday reaffirmed his stance to assist exporters assuring that his Government would leave no stone unturned in supporting foreign exchange earners.

Attending the Presidential Exports Awards held for the 21st time, following a four year hiatus. President Sirisena pointed out that encouragement is a must as foreign reserves in the country are drying up due to decreasing exports. He termed this downtrend a “point of national urgency.”

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Akbar Brothers extends lead as top tea exporter

2015-12-17

Akbar Brothers extends lead as top tea exporter

The pre-eminent standing of Akbar Brothers in the Sri Lankan Tea Industry has once again been affirmed and recognised with sweeping accolades at the Presidential Exports Awards.

Akbar Brothers bagged seven highly-coveted awards at the ceremony held on 16 December, presided over by President Maithripala Sirisena. The company was adjudged the Best Tea Sector Exporter for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. In addition, it won the exalted Best Sri Lanka Overall Exporter (All Sectors) for 2010 and the Best Sri Lankan Brand Exporter (All Sectors) for 2012 and 2013. Most impressively, Akbar Brothers had the singular honour of being the only tea company that has qualified for the Presidential Export Awards.

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Lankan exports facilitation opens wider

2015-11-30

Lankan exports facilitation opens wider

Sri Lanka’s apex platform to solve exporters’ issues, the Exporters’ Forum, wrapped its seventh session successfully on 27 November with a significant change to the ongoing interaction process; the Lankan exporters may no longer need to agonise till the next forum announcement to find solutions. “You don’t have to wait for this once in three months’ forum but you can now contact us anytime. As we move towards one stop shop solutions, EDB will be restructured and will be made as attractive as possible to exporters,” announced Lankan State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe.

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‘Sri Lanka ICT exports $ 5 b by 2020’: EDB

2015-11-23

‘Sri Lanka ICT exports $ 5 b by 2020’: EDB

Invigorated by Sri Lanka’s ICT exports surge, the country’s apex export facilitator EDB announced a new ICT/BPO exports target and a mere few hours’ B2B sessions between Lankan and Asia-Pacific ICT firms facilitated by EDB reported a whopping marathon of one-to-one business meet jamboree-right here in Colombo. “Let us try to forge ahead with solid business to business meetings today that will materialise to effective commercial activity. That is how all of us in our region can help each other,” stressed EDB Chairperson and CEO Indira Malwatte on 20 November.

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Sri Lankan electronic exports at $343 mn

2015-11-08

Sri Lankan electronic exports at $343 mn

Sri Lanka’s fledgling R&D innovation and start up cluster has hit big time in its maiden funding round and several hi-tech start ups, having crossed their R&D experiments barrier are now poised to commercialise their innovations anytime.

“The government’s vision is to transform Sri Lanka into a strategically important global economic centre. Increasing the share of hi-tech exports is essential to face the intense competition in the global market” stressed Himali Jinadasa, Acting Director General, Export Development Board, (EDB).

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Falling exports due to global downturn: EDB Chairperson

2015-11-06

Falling exports due to global downturn: EDB Chairperson

Sri Lanka’s present exports lull is due to many reasons but chiefly a throwback from the global market fall-and achieving national export targets is not a journey of a sole institution but requires a collaborative, cross-sectoral push, as stressed by the new Chairperson of Exports Development Board on 05 November.

“Exports are coming down due to various reasons, but chiefly since the global markets have come down-it’s not EDB alone. The Council of Ministers was a beautiful mechanism” announced Indira Malwatte (new Chairperson of EDB) on 05 November.

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Sri Lanka shines at Anuga International Trade Fair in Cologne

2015-10-30

Sri Lanka shines at Anuga International Trade Fair in Cologne

The 33rd Edition of the Anuga International 2015, the biggest General Food and Beverages Exhibition of the world was held in Cologne, Germany from October 10-14, 2015.  7063 companies from 108 nations exhibited their products to the 160,000 trade visitors from 192 Nations.


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Indira Malwatte appointed as new Head of EDB

2015-10-30

Indira Malwatte appointed as new Head of EDB

Indira Malwatte took office as the first woman to lead the Export Development Board (EDB) yesterday. “I am very confident of making a positive contribution to the export effort of our country,” newly-appointed EDB Chairperson Malwatte said.


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EDB upheaval!

2015-10-23

EDB upheaval!

Giving a sudden boost to Sri Lanka’s national exports push, the country’s apex export facilitator, the Export Development Board (EDB) has been directed to perform as a private sector entity henceforth to realise the country’s export reforms.

This makes the EDB itself a top reform target and formulation of sub sector level export targets with greatly increased export value addition is now on the cards.

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EDB moves to stamp Brand Sri Lanka in global batik map

2015-10-16

EDB moves to stamp Brand Sri Lanka in global batik map

Sri Lanka’s apex export facilitator EDB stepped up its efforts to stamp ‘Brand Sri Lanka’ in the global batik map – and linking with top institutional stakeholders, EDB is directly accessing the SMEs of the country in this new initiative, as announced on 8 October in Colombo.

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Sri Lanka to apply for GSP Plus end of this year: Harsha

2015-10-06

Sri Lanka to apply for GSP Plus end of this year: Harsha

Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the government would be forwarding the formal application to regain the GSP Plus preferential trade facility from the European Union (EU) by the end of this year in the backdrop of recent international developments. “After the resolution in Geneva passed, we wrote to the EU. Before the end of the year, we will be making the formal application, and hopefully by middle next year we will be able to bring in GSP Plus,” he said.

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EDB joins Lanka’s innovation giant to push hi-tech exports, R&D

2015-10-02

EDB joins Lanka’s innovation giant to push hi-tech exports, R&D

As Sri Lanka’s ranking surged in the latest Global Innovation Index, two apex Lankan state institutions are joining forces for the first time to boost the country’s hi-tech and innovation exports to the next level – and first ever hi tech R&D and Innovation Forum for Lankan CEOs is now on the cards, as revealed on 30 September in Colombo. “We welcome COSTI’s collaborative interest to partner with EDB. It is time we join forces to help our hi-tech exports to the next level,” said EDB Chairman and CEO Bandula Egodage.

Chairman Egodage was in discussions with the three-member team from the Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) of Sri Lanka. The 2013 established COSTI is the apex Lankan body coordinating and monitoring science, tech and innovation in the country while promoting value addition and commercialisation of them in line with the National Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy of Sri Lanka. Visiting COSTI team consisted of COSTI Chairperson and CEO Prof. Sirimali Fernando, Project Director Prof. Ajith de Alwis and Program Director Shehan Ratnavale. Joining the discussion were EDB DG-Actg Himali Jinadasa and other top officials and sector directors of EDB.

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Great Expectations

2015-09-06

Great Expectations

Chairman of FACETS Sri Lanka Juzar Adamaly said that the next goal of FACETS Sri Lanka is to establish Colombo as the Gem and Jewellery Hub of Asia. He made this remark while officially declaring the opening of 25th ‘FACETS Sri Lanka’ International Gem and Jewellery Exhibition in BMICH.

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Over 150 exhibitors at Facets 2015 today

2015-09-03

Over 150 exhibitors at Facets 2015 today

FACETS Sri Lanka 2015, the annual international gem and jewellery show, will be the flagship event of the sector.

More than 150 exhibitors will showcase their products from today till Sunday at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. . “It is over a 10,000 foot fall this year throughout the four days of the exhibition. A large number of buyers from China have confirmed while over 100 international buyer delegation are expected to attend the show from China, India, Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, USA, Russia, Norway and Germany,” one of the top gem and jewellery exhibitors Zam Gems Managing Director Ahsan Refai told the Daily News business.

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Harsha says SL needs economic reforms

2015-08-26

Harsha says SL needs economic reforms

Sri Lanka will seriously consider economic reforms during next five years to make its production of goods and services “the most efficient and competitive” in this part of the world, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said.

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Sri Lanka inks three MoUs with Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea

2015-08-25

Sri Lanka inks three MoUs with Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea

Sri Lanka has signed three memoranda of understanding with Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea yesterday to boost regional trade.

Sri Lanka-Hong Kong’s HKTDC, Sri Lanka-Korea’s KOTRA and Sri Lanka-Thailand’s DITP were the three MoUs signed yesterday.

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Sri Lanka’s gem industry eyes recovery

2015-02-11

Sri Lanka’s gem industry eyes recovery

A $1bn revenue target is spearheading Sri Lanka’s efforts to solidify its place as a key source market for gemstones and jewellery, although flat global sales of luxury goods, coupled with labour shortages, risk hindering the country’s efforts.

Sri Lanka is home to 70 of the world’s 200 varieties of coloured stones, including its best-known export, the Ceylon sapphire. Estimates suggest that 80-90% of the country’s rock formations could hold gem deposits.

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