Sri Lanka hosts major export networking forum to boost global trade expansion
Daily FT: A special high-level networking forum aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s global trade presence and boosting export growth was successfully held on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The forum brought together over 175 participants, including Sri Lankan exporters, foreign envoys and officials from the country’s overseas diplomatic missions.
The event was jointly organised by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry, the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in line with the directives of President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the decisions taken during the Export Development Council of Ministers (EDCM) meeting held on 27 January 2025. The forum served as a dynamic platform for direct engagement between the export community and diplomatic representatives, with a focus on enhancing Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. Exporters were given the opportunity to present their challenges, discuss market entry strategies and propose actionable ideas for tapping into new international markets.
A special focus was placed on analysing target-based US tariff regulations, which were discussed in depth.
Exporters used the forum to voice their concerns and suggestions ensuring that feedback from the ground level would be incorporated into national export strategies.
The performance of export initiatives discussed at the forum will be evaluated on a quarterly basis with an emphasis on measurable results and country-specific export potential. Among the distinguished guests who attended the event were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara and EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe.
Additionally, Sri Lankan ambassadors, diplomatic officials, and senior officials of the EDB also participated in the forum.
This networking forum provided a vital platform to foster direct engagement between Sri Lankan exporters and officials from overseas diplomatic missions. It created an excellent opportunity to address challenges, seek solutions, and explore new international market opportunities for the development and sustainability of Sri Lanka’s export sector. It was agreed to continue the dialogue with the objective of achieving the export target.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is engaged in a programme to further strengthen the existing trade ties while expanding ties to include more foreign countries. With Sri Lanka’s economy on a growth trajectory in-line with the country’s target of becoming a hub in the South Asian region, local authorities are focused on expanding the export industry in the country through accessing new markets with a diversified product portfolio. The country’s geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean has also given an added advantage to Sri Lanka in relation to trade. The growth and profits recorded by local businesses engaged in the export industry and the increasing revenue generated to the country all indicate the increasing business potential in Sri Lanka’s export industry. Foreign businesses/investors therefore could explore the growing business/investment opportunities in the export industries while also looking at expanding operations through local collaborations.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250418/Z_3 |