Trade Ministry appoints Export Advisory Committees to overlook 24 sectors

The Ministry of Trade today appointed several Export Advisory Committees to overlook 24 sectors for the 2021-2026 period.

The committees were appointed under the Export Development Board (EDB) Act No 40 of 1979 to develop and promote certain functional aspects of the export trade.

The appointed 24 committees are expected to identify key market challenges and opportunities faced by the industry, and set goals to strengthen sector competitiveness, and identify market requirements.

The sectors covered are: Apparel, Ayurveda & Herbal Products and Cosmetics, Boat and Ship Building, Coconut & Coconut-based products, Construction Services, Education Services, Electrical & Electronic components, Export Processing Villages, Gems, Diamonds & Jewellery, ICT/BPM, Light Engineering, Logistics, Marine & Offshore Engineering, Mineral-based products, National Quality Infrastructure, Organic Products, Ornamental Fish, Pharmaceuticals, Processed Food & Beverages, Regional Development, Rubber & Rubber-based products and Plastics, Seafood & Aquaculture Sector, Spices & Concentrates, and Trade Promotion & Trade Information.

The Export Advisory Committees are also expected to propose key policy changes that needs to be initiated to develop the export sector, the EDB said in a statement to the media.

The committees will be led by private sector industry representatives with participation of industry sector leaders and relevant public sector officers representing Government line agencies.

“The multi-stakeholder representation provides appropriate scrutiny of policy frameworks to catalyze export growth. They also succeed in providing a coordination to optimise institutional support and quality of service in the export process,” the EDB said.

Furthermore, the appointed committees will also be ab integral part of EDB’s formulation of Annual Action Plans, Strategies and Policy.