Friday Nov 22, 2024
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Tuesday, 10 August 2021 02:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Export Development Board (EDB) has received over 300 applications for the Presidential Export Awards 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, an increased number of submissions compared to previous years.
The Presidential Export Awards is the highest and most prestigious award presented by the President of Sri Lanka to exporters in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the export sector and to economic development of the country.
According to the Market Development Division of the EDB, the total number of applications for a year varies from around 130 to 140, but this time they have received over 150 submissions for each year. The division has begun the evaluation of the applications and is scheduled to be completed by October.
The deadline to submit applications for the Presidential Export Awards 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 was extended twice, considering requests made by the stakeholders due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Although the previous plan was to hold the awards ceremony in October, due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, EDB stated that it will be held in November. The awards ceremony will be held at BMICH with a limited number of participants due to the pandemic.
Last year, the EDB could not hold the Presidential Export Awards for financial year 2019/2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and therefore the combined 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 years will be the 24th edition of the award scheme.
A total of 12 Overall Awards will be presented for each financial year 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 to recognise the best exporting company in Sri Lanka.
These include; Exporter of the Year, Globally Outreached Sri Lankan Brand of the Year, Market Diversified Exporter of the Year, Best Exporter in Product Diversification, Best Value-added Exporter of the Year, Contributor to Sustainable Development in Exports, Innovative Export Product of the Year, Contributor from the Regions to the Export Supply Chain, Best Performing Exporter in Emerging Markets, Exporter to the Global Value Chain, Woman Exporter of the Year and Emerging Exporter of the Year.
In addition, ‘Best Exporter Award’ for each product/service sector will be presented to the individual export companies to recognise their contribution to the export sector in Sri Lanka. These are categories into Industrial Products, Agricultural and Fisheries Products as well as Export Services.
The Industrial Products category includes 26 sectors where it will recognise Large, Medium and Small-Scale business in each sector.
The sectors comprise of; Apparel, Hosiery, Knitted Fabric, Woven Fabric, Yarn, Dry Rubber Products, Latex Rubber Products, Ship Building, Boat and Pleasure Craft Building, Gems, Diamond, Jewellery, Ceramics and Porcelain Based Products, Glass Based Products, Plastic Products, Light Engineering Products, Leather Products, Furniture and Wooden Products, Chemical and Paint Products, Handloom, Toys, Crafts and Lifestyle Products, Footwear, Automobile Components, Value Added Minerals, Electronics and Electrical Products, Printing and Stationery and Packaging.
Agricultural and Fisheries Products category includes 16 sectors where it will recognise Large and SME scales business in each sector.
The sectors comprise of Tea, Processed Food, Beverages, Organic Agriculture Products, Fresh Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables, Processed Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables, Floriculture, Coconut Kernel Products, Coconut Shell Products, Coconut Substrate Products, Coconut Fibre Based Products, Seafood, Aquaculture Products, Ornamental Fish, Spices and Concentrates and Herbal and Ayurveda.
Export Services category includes eight categories which include; ICT, BPM/KPM, Logistic Services, Hub Operations, Entrepot Trade, Marine and Offshore Engineering Services, Wellness Services and Construction Services.
The award winners will be presented a prestigious Presidential Export Awards trophy and a certificate and they will be allowed to use the ‘award logo’, as a marketing tool for a period of three years.
