Sri Lanka and Australia discuss deepening trade collaborations
Daily FT: The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in partnership with the Australian High Commission, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), hosted a high-level seminar titled “Leveraging Australian Best Practices in Export Promotion” on 30 June in Colombo.
The event, held under the framework of the Australia-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), brought together key stakeholders from government, trade, and industry to explore how Australia’s export development strategies can be adapted to strengthen Sri Lanka’s trade ecosystem.
Inaugurating the seminar, EDB Chairman/CEO Mangala Wijesinghe welcomed the gathering and emphasised the importance of integrating global best practices to boost Sri Lanka’s export performance. He noted that the seminar is a timely initiative to advance trade facilitation, improve market access, and support SME exporters.
Delivering remarks, Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Secretary K.A. Vimalenthirarajah stressed the Government’s commitment to supporting export-led growth and the importance of international partnerships like TIFA.
Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Paul Stephens delivered the opening remarks, reaffirming Australia’s continued support for Sri Lanka’s trade and investment aspirations. “Australia is pleased to share its experiences and work closely with Sri Lanka in promoting sustainable and inclusive export growth,” he said.
The first technical session, led by Australian High Commission in Colombo First Secretary Sharini McEwen focused on market access and trade facilitation, including insights into how Australian exporters leverage Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and overcome regulatory barriers.
The second session was conducted by Austrade in New Delhi Trade Commissioner Nathan Davis. He provided an in-depth overview of Austrade’s strategic approach to export promotion, covering key policy instruments, grants, and business support services available in Australia.
A highlight of the seminar was the panel discussion on Supporting SME Export Growth. The panel featured representatives from EDB, DOC, and Austrade, who discussed practical measures for scaling SMEs into global markets, drawing on Australian models and local adaptation.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is in the process of further strengthening and expanding its trade ties with many foreign countries. The authorities are exploring the expansion of Sri Lanka’s trade ties through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and Trade and Investment Framework Arrangements (TIFAs). It is in such a backdrop that Sri Lanka and Australia are looking at further enhancing trade ties between the two countries. Sri Lanka’s manufacturing and export industries are on a steady growth path and have shown great resilience to external and internal shocks through the years. There is also a steady growth in the business/investment opportunities in these two industries that present lucrative ventures for foreign businesses/investors. The growth and profits recorded by businesses already engaged in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing and exports industries and the interest shown by more businesses to enter the industries are indicative of their increasing business potential. Australian businesses/investors could therefore confidently explore the business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing and exports industries. Also, the strong trade ties enjoyed by Sri Lanka with many foreign countries make Sri Lanka the best destination for Australian businesses to set up bases to engage with other countries in the region.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250707/Z_4 |