Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) new Chairman Suresh de Mel this week expressed confidence of giving the best shot at realising a near $ 16 billion target for 2021 despite domestic and global challenges. This confidence stems from a plethora of new initiatives as well as fine-tuning existing endeavours to develop and boost exports.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is forecasting a performance of $ 15.68 billion in merchandise and service shipments in 2021.
The US$ 13.5 billion export target set for merchandise export sectors in early 2020 remains challenging, requiring not only strong efforts from local enterprises, but also the recovery of global demand amid complicated Covid-19 situation. Amid severe impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports remain at US$ 9.9 billion in 2020, which is a 104 % achievement from the revised forecast of US$ 9.5 billion.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) last week successfully completed its 30 th capacity-development webinar session to the exporter community and SMEs. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic situation of the country, the EDB could not carry out its conventional capacity development programmes such as workshops and seminars, due to the health regulations imposed on people-gathering activities. As an alternative method, online sessions were conducted to enhance the capacity and knowledge of exporters and SMEs in Sri Lanka.
Against a transformative and competitive regional backdrop, Sri Lanka aspires to become South Asia’s logistics hub. The leading impetus to this ambitious vision is Sri Lanka’s National Export Strategy (NES); and its prominence to the logistics industry. Directly employing roughly over 50,000 people industry-wide, the sector has an ambitious vision to grow from a traditional transshipment hub to a regional logistics center. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing transshipment hubs in the world, Sri Lanka offers a unique package of innovative multi-modal logistics services.
Bringing the best of Wellness Tourism to a domestic audience, the Sri Lanka Wellness Tourism Association (SLWTA) and the Export Development Board (EDB) concluded its third and final webinar of a tri-part series – Wellness: A New Paradigm in Sri Lankan Tourism, recently. Culminating with its final session on 10 July, a panel of high-profile industry experts comprising of Prof. Lal Chandrasena, GM, Nawaloka Hospitals; Dr. Lakith Peiris, MD, Hemas Hospitals; Dr. Shantha Godagama, President, UK Ayurvedic Medical Association; Dr. Palitha Serasinghe, Founder and Chairman of Setramed UK; Shalin Balasuriya, Co-Founder of SPA Ceylon; shared several exceptional insights, with Trevor Reckerman, Chairman, SLWTA summarising how Sri Lanka can position itself in the global wellness industry, through a well structured national action plan.
To strengthen quality and preserve originality, the Export Development Board (EDB) has kicked-off licencing of ‘Ceylon Spices’ trademark for qualifying producers, processors and exporters of cinnamon, pepper, clove, nutmeg and mace as well as cardamom.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), with the assistance of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany and the Ministry of Foreign Relations, organised a free webinar on 15 July, on matchmaking and market entry opportunities available for Sri Lankan electronic and electrical sector exporters.
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 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.
Involvement of the public and private sector in the development of the country’s economy has been the trend in the world for the past few decades. It is not possible to achieve any sector development by focusing interventions solely on the private or public sector. In fact, many of the challenges faced by the private sector can be overcome only in partnership with the public sector.
2019-10-29/ http://www.ft.lk/front-page/We-wouldn-t-be-globally-successful-without-Sri-Lanka-IFS/44-688568
Global enterprise applications company IFS with over $ 700 million in revenue said recently it wouldn’t have been successful without Sri Lanka where it relies heavily for development, product and customer support and innovation.
2019-10-23/ http://www.ft.lk/business/EDB-organises-Sri-Lanka-pavilion-at-GITEX-Technology-Week/34-688158
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organised a Sri Lanka country pavilion at the GITEX Technology Week, held from 6-10 October.
Sri Lanka yesterday launched the official website announcing the country’s participation in the six-month long Expo 2020 Dubai, anticipating a major boost to exports, tourism and investments while looking to enhance the country’s brand value and image globally.
Indira Malwatte, Chairperson & Chief Executive of EDB and the Commissioner General of Sri Lanka for Expo 2020 Dubai together with the private sector stakeholders; Secretary Generals of the National Chamber of Exporters and National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Shiham Marikkar and Bandula Dissanayake and the Co- Chair Planning Sub Committee of Expo 2020 Dubai, Fazal Mushin met Ahmed Ali Ibrahim Al Mualla, the ambassador for UAE in Sri Lanka this week at the embassy premises to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s commitment in participation at Expo 2020 Dubai and to review the progress made so far.