26th Presidential Export Awards in February

From left: EDB Director General Champika Dharmasena, EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe and EDB Additional Director General Anoma Premathilake
PIC BY PRADEEP DILRUCKSHANA

Sri Lanka’s top-performing exporters will come under fresh spotlight once again with the 26th Presidential Export Awards set to kick off on February 7.
The event, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), will take place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The Presidential Export Awards is the highest recognition awarded by the president to the Sri Lankan exporters, who have made significant contributions to the export sector and economic development of the country. 
The awards ceremony aims to honour the exporters who have played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s economic growth.
This year’s awards recognise the best exporters for the 2023/24 financial year. The awards will be presented under two main categories, comprising 14 overall awards and 51 sector-specific awards. 

Additionally, merit awards will be granted to eligible sectors based on performance and contributions to national economic objectives. 
Evaluation for sector-specific awards considers criteria beyond export revenue, such as market diversification, job creation, export growth, value addition, sustainability, corporate social responsibility and export proceed repatriation.
In addition to the Presidential Award for the Most Innovative Export Product, this year’s edition will also introduce a special recognition for the Most Innovative Service Provider of the Year.
Ernst & Young has come in as the knowledge partner for the 26th edition of the Presidential Export Awards.
The EDB shared that aligned with the new government’s policy framework, strategies have been implemented to expand Sri Lanka’s exports significantly. These include market and product diversification, innovation, value addition, promoting local brands internationally, sustainable export practices and regional value chain development. 
“Exporters’ contributions in these areas are vital to achieving the government’s goals,” the EDB said.