National Chamber of Exporters to celebrate 25th Annual Export Awards Ceremony in Sept.

The prestigious Annual Export Awards Ceremony of the NCE recognizes and rewards Sri Lankan exporters on their achievements in the International Market Place.  It serves to motivate them to reach greater heights in the field of exports, and enhance their contribution to the economic development of Sri Lanka. 

It is the most looked forward to event in the business calendar of Sri Lanka, and is attended by over 600 participants including the political leadership, members of the Diplomatic Corps, high State Officials, the cream of the Business Community, member exporters of the Chamber, and special invitees.  

The newly elected President of the Chamber Ramal  Jasinghe in his address at the AGM had stressed the importance of reaching out to the Regional Chambers, and present Special Awards to especially export oriented SMEs, Service Providers to Exporters, and entities which are links in the Export Value Chains, with a view to motivate them.  The Management Committee of the Chamber has also taken special interest this year to ensure that Entrepreneurs linked to the Export Value Chains from the Regions are recognized with Special Awards.

In this context the NCE also wishes to emphasize that the Export Awards Ceremony is not exclusively for its members. As such all Direct Exporters, Indirect Exporters, Service Providers to Exporters, as well as other Stakeholders in the field of exports could apply for awards.

Shiham Marikar, Secretary General of the Chamber emphasizes the reasons, why Sri Lankan exporters of Products and Services, as well as upcoming SME exporters should apply for Awards. Firstly, winning an Award serves to motivate employees of the enterprise by witnessing the outcome and benefits of their efforts.  Secondly, an award winning export enterprise receives tremendous exposure and publicity through the print and electronic media, regarding its business and professional standing, thereby boosting its image among stakeholders.   Thirdly and most importantly recognition of the achievements of an enterprise enables it to attract overseas buyers thereby facilitating expansion of the business.  This objective could be achieved by including information related to its success in promotional and marketing material.  Fourthly even an enterprise which fails to win an Award at the event could profit through the advice and assistance provided by the Chamber to improve its weak areas which are highlighted during the highly professional and independent evaluation process of the Chamber. 

The event this year which celebrates its 25th anniversary, includes several new features, which gives recognition not only to the value and growth in exports of an enterprise, but several other important areas related to the Management of the enterprise, financial parameters, impact on the environment including aspects such as Waste Management and Recycling, Energy Management and Energy Audits, ability to acquire internationally recognized special certifications related to exports, as well as the overreaching activities of an enterprise which has a positive impact on the stakeholders and associated communities etc.   These aspects have been given due recognition and importance in keeping with modern trends in the field of business and exports. 

Over the years the evaluation criteria related to the event have evolved to accommodate contemporary needs to compete in the International Market Place, and also to be in line with the Economic and Export Policies of the Government.  In the modern context these include Innovation and Differentiation of Products, Branding, Value Addition, and Integration with ‘International Value Chains’, to be competitive, and for long term sustainability.

In the above context the Chamber in its 25th year of the event has extended its outreach to Provincial Exporters, as well as related stakeholders in the field of exports.  This has been achieved by collaborating with Regional Chambers to encourage their member companies, especially in the SME category, to participate in the event as applicants for Special Awards.  The Special Awards extended to them will not be based only on their achievements as Direct Exporters. Their contribution to the ‘Export Value Chains’ as indirect suppliers of Products and Services, and the Value Addition provided by them to the export process as links in the ‘Export Value Chains’ will be recognized as well.  The objective of the Chamber in respect of this outreach program is to encourage Regional SME Enterprises and Potential Exporters, and develop them into independent export enterprises.  It also serves to increase the number of entrepreneurs and export enterprises in Sri Lanka, in order to diversify and expand production capacities of Sri Lankan Export Enterprises. 

This year the Chamber has also adopted measures to strengthen the Awards Program by recognizing other stakeholders in the field of exports, such as Banks, Universities, and Women Entrepreneurs etc., whose contribution in the field of exports as Service Providers to Exporters often goes unrecognized.  As such the Chamber will recognize Banks who have made an effective contribution to exports through innovative Financial Products, and services, Universities which have engaged in successful Research & Development work with potential for exports, and Women Entrepreneurs who have made a unique contribution in the field of exports. 

The Chamber urges all stakeholders in the field of exports to be a beneficiary of its efforts to accelerate the volume and value of exports from Sri Lanka, by participating in the event in this 25th anniversary year.