Exports in Sri Lanka

Over US$ 1b gems to China by 2016

Daily News - 05/12/2014

Sri Lanka could bridge the trade imbalance with China to a greater extent and also increase the US$ one billion overall export target in 2016, if the local gem/precious stone exports were encouraged and developed. At present there is a huge trade gap in favor of China, Director Marketing and Export -National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Rohan Perera said.

"We are now looking at increasing gem export to China being the biggest buyer in the recent past. Since, China being a prosperous country in the world the demand for super luxury items like gems has increased considerably," Perera told the Daily News Business.

20 IT SMEs in EDB’s first Jaffna Export Forum today

Daily FT - 05/12/2014

‘30 more would be entrepreneurs too’: SLAASCOM’s Sekaram
‘$ 5B IT exports by 2020’: EDB’s Egodage
‘Cloud tech helping regional IT’: SLAASCOM’s Sekaram2103 IT exports at $ 719 m

Sri Lanka’s apex export facilitator EDB’s first IT event in Jaffna has been boosted by an influx of Jaffna based operators and would be ICT entrepreneurs on 4 December and the event also packs in-depth industry presentations from no less than seven top Lankan IT firms.

“Almost 20 SME IT operators in Jaffna region have registered for 5 December’s IT/BPM Export Forum in Jaffna. Another 30 prospective IT entrepreneurs from Jaffna who are looking to set-up, too have joined making it a total of 50 players,” said SLASSCOM Vice Chairman Mano Sekaram on 4 December in Colombo.

New dimension in Lankan fashion and apparel to debut at SLDF 2014

Daily FT - 02/12/2014

Sri Lanka Design Festival’s 2014 fashion edition is taking shape with a preview into Sri Lanka’s brand-led future in fashion. Taking a giant step forward from the country’s longstanding reputation as a sustainable and technologically advanced manufacturing destination, Sri Lanka is about to forge its reputation as a fashion industry with its own brands. Sri Lanka Design Festival is the platform for this major step for Sri Lanka, and its sixth successful fashion edition is scheduled to unfold this week.

Vietnam calls for FTA

Daily FT - 02/12/2014

‘Appointing Lanka’s first trade official to Vietnam’ – Rishad
‘Bilateral trade should not be just rice and tea’ – Kieu Thu
YoY bilateral trade surges by 88%
‘Time to explore joint apparel synergies too’ – Kieu Thu

Stepping up its trade cooperation with Sri Lanka, Vietnam said that it was working towards establishing a groundbreaking FTA with Sri Lanka.

In view of this, Sri Lanka has promptly appointed its first-ever trade officer to Vietnam, the world’s fifth largest apparel exporter which is ready to partner with Sri Lanka’s own apparel industry.

“There is huge unrealised trade potential between both countries that we need to explore. Trade need not be mostly the exchange of rice and tea between both countries. Therefore, while in Colombo, I will take up the task of promoting an FTA with Sri Lanka,” said Vietnam’s new ambassador to Sri Lanka, Phan Kieu Thu on 27 November in Colombo.

As both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka moved closer to their historic trade pact, the process took a new turn as a keen Bangladeshi private sector itself stepping in to accelerate it on 27 November, a rare development in an on-going Lankan trade negotiations-and bilateral trade between both countries has jumped by a strong 67%.

“I will meet our Commerce Minister who is very well meaning and serious, and inform him to expedite the FTA process” said Mahbubur Rahman (President, International Chamber of Commerce of Bangladesh ICCB) on Thursday (27) in Colombo. ICCB President Rahman was addressing Rishad Bathiudeen.

How to develop Sri Lanka’s wood-based industry

Daily Mirror - 24/11/2014

A conference and workshop under the theme “Wood Based Industry – Way Forward’ organized by the Wood Based Industrialist Association of Sri Lanka (WBIA), will be held at the Export Development Board (EDB) Auditoriumon on November 28.

Channa Wijesekera, President of the Wood Based Industrialist Association of Sri Lanka, is expected to outline the problems facing the wood based industry in this article. He explains why this important industry has not developed over the years and proposes a series of solutions to remedy the situation.
When analyzing the development of t he various industries in Sri Lanka, the timber and ti mber related industry indicates a comparative downward trend or slow progress in comparison with the other industries.

Russia shows green light on fish import from SL

Daily Mirror - 26/11/2014

Russia has granted approval to import fish and fish products to the Russian Federation from Sri Lanka, 2014, the External Affairs Ministry said.

The Ministry said the Federal Service of Veterinary Surveillance under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation granted approval to import fish and fish products to the Russian Federation as a result of the untiring efforts of the Sri Lankan Government through its Embassy in Russia.