National SME Forum 2025 opens new doors to global markets and growth opportunities

National SME Forum 2025, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, this week brought together over 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from across Sri Lanka, alongside government institutions, development partners, corporate leaders and trade support organisations, offering the SMEs the opportunity to connect directly with key stakeholders, access practical support and explore new business and export opportunities.

Organised under the theme ‘Scale Up’, the forum featured an insightful agenda, tailored to address the real-word challenges faced by the SMEs, including access to finance, leveraging digital tools, navigating policy reforms and transformative role of AI, with a strong focus on export market integration. 

A special session titled ‘Expanding into Export Markets: Opportunities Beyond Sri Lanka’ enabled the SMEs to engage directly with trade representatives from India, the UK, EU and UAE.

Delivering the welcome address, Ceylon Chamber Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa emphasised the importance of SMEs as a national economic priority. 

“Today marks an important milestone in our collective effort to strengthen one of the most vital segments of our economy – the SME sector,” he stated. 

Highlighting the Ceylon Chamber’s three-pillar strategy of policy advocacy, engagement and market access, he added, that the participation of SMEs from across the country strongly signalled the national scope and inclusivity of the conversation relating to scaling up Sri Lanka’s SME sector. 

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe in his speech highlighted that the forum is a powerful affirmation of a shared commitment to uplifting the SMEs, which are the very backbone of the economy and highlighted the government’s efforts to drive inclusive entrepreneurship and unlock the sector’s full potential.

Visa Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions India and South Asia Shruti Gupta delivered the keynote address. 

Drawing from global and Asia-Pacific SME trends, Gupta noted, “SMBs account for over 90 percent of global firms, 70 percent of employment and up to 70 percent of GDP—but they remain underserved and underleveraged.” 

She emphasised the role of digital platforms, alternative finance and embedded solutions, among other evolving trends, in enabling the SMEs to scale efficiently and compete globally.

A Business Matchmaking and Support Clinic ran parallel to the forum, facilitating direct engagement between the SMEs and buyers, banks, chambers and trade support institutions. Industries represented included tea, spices, ICT, wellness products, food and beverages, crafts and eco-solutions.