Eighth Exporters’ Forum draws nearly 40 firms

No less than 37 firms voiced their issues at the eighth Exporters Forum held yesterday chaired by State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe. 

The Exporters’ Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform to assist Lankan exporters. At the previous 7th Forum concluded successfully last November, 72 issues were taken up and 47 were resolved.  Several policy related issues of the seventh Forum were attended to.  There has been significant progress in VAT and Quartz related issues that were raised in the seventh Forum.

The Honorary Consul for Belgium in Sri Lanka and a founder member of the Building a Future Foundation (BAFF) Pierre Pringiers voices his proposals to develop the promising boat and leisure boat exports of Sri Lanka at the 8th Exporters Forum yesterday which was presided upon by State Minister of International Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe 

Interestingly, at the 29 February Forum, three issues forwarded by exporters were solved even before the Forum opened.  Another novel feature is that Trade Agreements related issues are being taken up for the first time in addition to the usual sector related and inland-revenue related issues. 55 new exporter issues from 37 firms are discussed at the 29 February Forum. These issues are equally spread between agro and fishery as well as Industry and service sectors. 

Another interesting feature seen was the Honorary Consul for Belgium in Sri Lanka and a founder member of Building a Future Foundation (BAFF) Pierre Pringiers, voicing his constructive proposals to develop the Sri Lankan boat exports-especially the leisure and luxury boats. 

“Since some of the boats produced are sold to the Lankan tourism industry, they need to be considered as an export and should be given certain concessions. This will greatly help this promising export sector” Pringiers said.