EDB assistance for Central Province entrepreneurs to become exporters

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) on the direction of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade held the second program of creating awareness for the Central Province entrepreneurs on developing 2,000 new exporters by 2020 on 28April at the Central Provincial Council Auditorium of Pallekele, Kandy.

Under the program the EDB will assist the regional entrepreneurs to groom them to become exporters under the program. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on 27October 2016 presenting his economic statement in Parliament emphasised the need to broaden the economic base of the country to sustain a higher growth through increasing exports by encouraging domestic enterprises to invest in the export industry.

Under this backdrop, the Government having identified the need for development of exports as one of the key strategies for Sri Lanka to achieve long-term economic and social objectives of the country to ensure greater prosperity for the people launched this programme to maximise the utilisation of regional resources to the export development supply chain and to increase the SME sector contribution to exports from Sri Lanka, particularly from the regions.

State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senesinghe, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayeka, Central Province Opposition Leader Chanaka Illpperuma, members of the Central Provincial Council Chitra Manthilake, Shanthini Kongahage, S. Rajarathnam and Jeevani Siriwardena, Export Development Board Director General and Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale District Secretaries among others attended this occasion.

The Central Province with an abundance of natural resources in terms of minerals, agricultural produce, not forgetting the cultural and human resources offer innumerable opportunities for development of agro-based industries.  Further increasing value by further processing agricultural products and spices, gem and jewellery, ornaments, flowers and ornamental plants, processed food, information technology and telecommunications services are also recognised as potential sectors for new entrepreneurs to venture into the export businesses

This awareness seminar made it possible for all participating enterprises from the Central Province to network and establish partnership to discuss their business activities in joining the 2,000 exporters program by the year 2020.The Bank of Ceylon as the Banking Partner of the Programme presented their services to the entrepreneurs.

The officials of the Central Provincial Council Secretariat led by the Chief Secretary facilitated the hosting of the event at their premises in Pallekele.