EDB organises Lanka pavilion for Kunming Fair

Daily News - 19/03/2014

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in China will organize a Sri Lanka pavilion at the second China South Asia Exposition to be held at the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Centre, from June 6 to 10, 2014

This exposition is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Government of Yunnan province to promote import products from the South Asian region .

Applications are expected from manufacturers and exporters from the categories such as food and beverages (tea, spices and kitchen essentials, processed food products, fish and related fishery products and fresh fruits and vegetables), agri products (cut flowers and foliage, coir and coir products), gems and jewellery, garments and textiles, ceramics and porcelain products, handicrafts (high quality handicrafts, batiks, artificial fashion jewellery), healthcare products (herbal products, personal care products) finally industrial products such as rubber and based products, paints and varnishes, automobile spare parts, bicycle products, electrical products and activated carbon.

Steps taken to expand Gem and Jewelry exports

news.lk - 18/03/2014

Sri Lanka’s Gem and Jewelry Industry is emerging as one of the biggest foreign exchange earning industry for the country. The Gem and Jewellery Authority has implemented many measures to uplift the industry.

These includes holding periodical exhibitions locally and in foreign countries and providing facilities for gem miners and establishing partnerships with other gem exporting countries in the world.

As a result of these activities Myanmar has invited Sri Lanka to establish cooperation in the industry.  Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Lakshman Wasantha Perera said that with this new initiative from Myanmar we could establish new industries both local and foreign to enable us to generate huge employment opportunities locally and overseas, in addition to development of Sri Lankan exports.

Initiative to jumpstart Palestine - SL trade

The Island - 18/03/2014

Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka-far right Rishad Bathiudeen prepares for the interview with Mai Bakry (presenter, "Palestine TV") on 07 March in Colombo. Third from right (standing) is Anwer al-Agha, Palestine Ambassador to Colombo.

Bilateral trade needs to be revived first, before moving for such trade mechanisms as FTAs when it comes to trade with the virgin market of Palestinian Territories. "FTA with the Palestinian Territories is a good idea but with non-existent trade at present, it is too early for it" said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was speaking to Ms Mai Bakry, presenter of "Palestine TV" on March 07 in Colombo when he was interviewed for the channel.

Exclusive Myanmar gem zone for Sri Lanka

Daily Finance Times - 17/03/2014

Sri Lanka’s gem mining industry is set to turn a new chapter as Myanmar has invited the country for unprecedented cooperation efforts across many sectors. “I am pleased to say that the follow-up delegation as a result of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to BIMSTEC in Myanmar has reaped great success. I am quite confident that, with this initiative, we could establish new industries both local and foreign, to enable us to generate huge employment opportunities locally and overseas, in addition to development of exports of Sri Lanka,” revealed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Lakshman Wasantha Perera.

Deputy Minister Perera was speaking in the aftermath of his ministerial meetings with members of the Myanmar Cabinet in Myanmar.  Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Lakshman Wasantha Perera led the 15 member strong Sri Lankan delegation to the Myanmar Construction Summit held in the country’s capital city Naypyidaw.

China starts first Sri Lanka value chain study

Daily Nation - 12/03/2014

Sujatha Weerakoon, Director General, EDB-far right, addresses Peng Jinhuo, Division Head of Inspection and Quarantine Authority (seated front row, far right in brown outfit)

Strengthening bilateral trade cooperation further, China’s powerful official organ in charge of import commodity inspections, has despatched its first expert study team to Sri Lanka, signalling that China is opening for Sri Lanka’s agro-exports.

The official quarantine study team from the powerful official organ in charge of import commodity inspections, Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (ADSIQ-China) has arrived in Sri Lanka on 05 February and begun work on 06 February, by liaising with the EDB. The three member team is scheduled to return to China on 12 March.

‘75% of our exporters are SMEs’

The Island - 14/03/2014

Sujatha Weerakoon (DG-EDB-far left) addresses the audience at EDB facilitated Internationalisation of SMEs session by PUM Netherlands senior experts on March 14. Seated at head table (at centre) is Dutch Tech Transfer Expert Cees Van Dijl.

SMEs are the backbone of our economy and more importantly, they are at the level of exports too! "Of the more than 4000 of Sri Lankan export firms, 75% are SMEs. Therefore we have a huge responsibility to groom them to become large scale export firms" said Sujatha Weerakoon (DG-EDB).

DG-EDB Weerakoon was addressing the EDB facilitated "Internationalisation of SMEs session by PUM Netherlands senior experts" session held at EDB on March 14.

China starts Sri Lanka agro value chain studies

The Island - 13/03/2014

Fujian, China’s emerging high growth province, is eager for more Sri Lankan exports to its demanding marketplace-and a visiting delegation to Colombo pushed for direct links with Lankan businesses on 06 March in Colombo. "Sri Lanka has been rebuilt as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. And I agree with you that both sides can mutually benefit in many sectors of cooperation, including trade. In fact, we want Sri Lanka – Fujian trade to grow in Sri Lanka’s favour" said a keen (HE) Song Kening (Director-General of Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs) on 06 March in Colombo.

Director-General Kening was addressing the Sri Lankan business team led by Bandula Egodage (Chairman/CEO, EDB) along with Dr Yousuf Maraikkar (ED, EDB), Sujatha Weerakoone (DG, EDB) and EDB sectoral representatives on 06 March at EDB premises, Colombo.