NCE conducts seminar between Northern member exporters and producers

The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) of Sri Lanka has been regularly participating in the Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) during the last two years to fulfil its objective of bringing economic prosperity to the people in the North by further developing business linkages between the member exporters of the chamber and producers in the North.

The JITF has developed into a comprehensive business-focused exhibition and has provided a good platform for member exporters of the NCE to network and expand business linkages with producers in the North for mutual benefit and further strengthen economic linkages, for the prosperity of the people in the North. In the above context, the NCE has over the last few years been actively engaged in a project supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and funded by AUSAID to link member exporters of the chamber with producers of agricultural and fisheries products in the North, to enable them to supply their products to international markets.

This project has already established firm business linkages between some member companies of the chamber and producers in the North, with ongoing contracts to supply agricultural products for export. Following participation at the JITF, the delegation of 11-member companies of the chamber, participated in a seminar and workshop with producers from the Northern region. The event was conducted at the auditorium of the Jaffna Library.

Over 30 farmers and producers from the Northern region attended the event, which was coordinated by the Yalpanam Chamber of Industry and Commerce. NCE Secretary General Shiham Marikar briefed the participants regarding the benefits in establishing linkages between the member exporters of the chamber and producers in the North. He highlighted the results already achieved by the producers in the North and exporters in the South under the activities of the Local Empowerment for Economic Development (LEED) project supported by the ILO, mentioned above, with the intention of signing additional contacts in the near future for further business expansion.

Northern Province Deputy P r o v i n c i a l D i r e c t o r o f Agriculture J. Jeganathan made a presentation on the current position and opportunities for producers of agricultural products in the Northern Province for export. In this context, it was stated that the success of exporters and exports from Sri Lanka depend on the success of producer farmers. Palmyrah Board General Manager also participated in the event to brief the progress regarding the supply of palmyrah products. The seminar was followed by a question and answer session and lunch for the participants