New EDB Chairman meets leading exporters

Export Development Board Chairman/Chief Executive, Prabhash Subasinghe met with the country’s leading exporters yesterday at the EDB premises. 

Twenty-five exporters covering the country’s main export sectors attended this meeting. 

While congratulating Subasinghe, who is also a leading exporter, on his appointment, the 25 exporters covering the country’s main export sectors, shared with him their expectations for 2020. The exporters stressed the need for policy consistency to the country’s exports.

Subasinghe asked how EDB could assist and intervene in penetrating to any new markets, and emphasized the need to develop new products to expand the limited export basket.

The exporters were of the view that market access through new and existing FTAs is also needed to increase exports from Sri Lanka. The need to focus on R&D, product innovation, brand protection, Geographical Indication protection, particularly for agricultural products, land availability for expansion, expediting hub operations were also highlighted during the discussion as key factors to achieve considerable increase in exports. 

It was suggested to have more focused discussions with each sector on strategies to double exports within next few years.