Sri Lanka, Germany renew partnership to boost export market access for SMEs
EconomyNext: Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board (EDB) and Germany’s Import Promotion Desk (IPD) have signed an agreement to continue their partnership to increase market access for the island nation’s export-oriented SMEs.
The collaboration has been ongoing since 2019.
The MoU establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in trade promotion services, exporter development, institutional and staff capacity building, business matchmaking, and development of export-oriented women entrepreneurship.
Under this agreement, IPD will continue to provide technical expertise, training programmes, consultancy support, and market access facilitation, while the EDB will support export-oriented SME engagement and coordinate joint export development initiatives.
Julia Bellinghausen, Head of IPD, Marcus Schwenke, Director International Markets, Federation of Wholesale Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), Stephanie Weber, and other representatives of IPD signed the agreement.
IPD is committed to continuing supporting Sri Lankan exporters through technical expertise, capacity building initiatives, and stronger connections with European markets, Bellinghausen was quoted as saying in an EDB statement.
She “highlighted the importance of building long-term, sustainable partnerships that enable SMEs to meet international market requirements and establish lasting commercial relationships”.
Sri Lanka export-oriented SMEs, particularly in the natural ingredients sector, have benefited from capacity building programmes, market intelligence, buyer linkages, and participation in international trade fairs.
A key feature of the collaboration has been the empowerment of women entrepreneurs.
“Through targeted support initiatives, women-led enterprises have been provided with enhanced opportunities to participate in international trade and expand their presence in global markets,” the EDB said.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s export sector presents a compelling opportunity for German businesses/investors seeking to diversify supply chains and establish partnerships in South Asia. With the renewal of cooperation between the Sri Lanka EDB and Germany’s IPD, exporters are expected to benefit from enhanced market access, stronger institutional support, and greater business matchmaking opportunities. As Sri Lanka’s economy continues its recovery and growth trajectory, the country offers a competitive export base across sectors such as food and agriculture, spices, coconut-based products, seafood, apparel, rubber products, ICT services, and value-added manufacturing. German businesses/investors can leverage Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, skilled workforce, and preferential access to key international markets to strengthen their regional and global supply chains. The renewed EDB-IPD partnership also creates business/investment opportunities for German businesses/investors to collaborate with export-oriented SMEs, support innovation and sustainability initiatives, and invest in women-led enterprises. As Sri Lanka and Germany deepen their trade and economic ties, the island’s export industry is well positioned to serve as a gateway for long-term, mutually beneficial business and investment partnerships.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260710Z_1 |