EDB hits China gold with first mainland MoU

Daily FT - 25/11/2014

• Deeper commitments with new FTA: Vice President Hua
• Fresh ties: EDB’s Egodage
• Exports to China grew in last 5 years: EDB’s Dr. Maraikkar
• Bilateral trade at $ 3 b

Sri Lankan exports broke fresh ground on 20 November, as a pioneering MoU between the country’s apex exports facilitator EDB and China was entered into in Colombo. With the commencement of FTA talks, bilateral relations have also further deepened.

“During President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Sri Lanka this September, he and President Mahinda Rajapaksa reached consensus to deepen the strategic partnership and joint construction of 21 Century Maritime Silk Road. Now the countries have officially started the bilateral FTA negotiations and we believe that the bilateral cooperation would be further deepened in future,” said Zhang Hua, Vice President of CCPIT Guangdong Sub Committee.

EDB secures links with world’s largest textile retailer ZARA

Daily News - 26/11/2014

For the first time in Sri Lanka’s apparel history, the Export Development Board has directly linked top Lankan apparel suppliers with the world’s largest textile retailer, Spain’s ZARA and is stepping up its support for apparel market diversification.

“Though the Lankan apparel sector caters to many international brands, we have still not been able to manufacture to Zara brand, the world largest fashion retailer.

This successful effort directly linked our apparels to Zara for the first time,” said Chitranjali Dissanayake (Director-Industrial Products of SLEDB).

EDB in global apparel breakthrough

Daily FT - 26/11/2014

• Secures links with world’s largest textile retailer ZARA
• 6-member EDB-led delegation to Spain 
• Brandix, Timex, Fergasam in pioneering session 
• September apparel exports up by 4.4%

For the first time in Sri Lanka’s apparel history, the EDB, Sri Lanka’s apex export facilitator, has directly linked top Lankan apparel suppliers with the world’s largest textile retailer, Spain’s ZARA on 29 October.
The facilitator, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), is stepping up its support for apparel market diversification.

“Though the Lankan apparel sector caters to many international brands, such as Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Marks & Spencer, we still haven’t been able to manufacture for the Zara brand, the world’s largest fashion retailer. This successful effort directly linked our apparels to Zara for the first time,” said EDB Director – Industrial Products Chitranjali Dissanayake recently.

Kenya-Sri Lanka Joint Economic Cooperation talks a success

Daily FT - 18/11/2014

Kenya, the newest entrant to Africa’s top 10 list, called for renewed trade with Sri Lanka and in a display of its commitment towards this end requested three trade pacts with Sri Lanka in one go by 2015.

“We are looking forward to more trade interaction and expecting a delegation to Nairobi from Sri Lanka next year. By the time of your visit to Nairobi we are looking forward to conclude current discussions on three agreements being discussed and to sign them,” said Amb. Nelson Ndirangu Ogn (Director, Economic Affairs and International Trade of Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi) on 12 November in Colombo.

Canada for more trade with SL

Daily FT - 19/11/2014

• Canada has 24 FTAs including NAFTA: Whiting 
• Another opening to largest market: Rishad 
• EDB revives TRO-Canada links
• Top Lankan exporters at Canada session
• Bilateral trade at $ 437 m

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen (second from left) in discussion with EDB Chairman/CEO Bandula Egodage yesterday as Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Shelley Whiting (far right) and Canada Asia-Trade Facilitation Office Project Manager Zaki Munshi (far left) look on

As part of its new internationalisation thrust, the second largest economy in North America directly called for a fresh trade round with Sri Lanka yesterday, recording success for Sri Lanka with yet another NAFTA member.

More than 100 Lankan firms of all sizes packed EDB’s pioneering ‘Exporting to Canada’ session in Colombo.

Jaffna Int’l Trade Fair during Jan 23-25, 2015

Daily News - 19/11/2014

The Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF), the most comprehensive and ‘looked forward to’ exhibition in the North will be held for the sixth consecutive year in the heart of Jaffna from the January 23-25, 2015.

The exhibition which was the first of its kind to be held in the Northern region of the country has throughout the years been renowned as the best and most potent platform for the meeting of investors, businesses and the masses in the region.

Sri Lanka's export trade sector grows 11.1%

Ceylon Today - 16/11/2014

Sri Lanka's Export Trade sector recorded a relatively a higher growth of 11.1 per cent in second quarter 2014, when compared to the slower growth of 1.2 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2013, Department of Census and Statistics said in its Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product report released recently.

According to the Balance of Payment statistics of Central Bank of Sri Lanka, export earnings increased to Rs343,058 million in the second quarter of 2014, from Rs291,274 million in the second quarter 2013, indicating a growth of 17.8 per cent, said the Census and Statistics Department.