Upcoming Textile Series, a big boost to SL apparel sector: EDB Chairman

From left: Chairperson of Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Rajitha Jayasuriya, Group CEO CEMS-Global USA S. S. Sarwar, Chairman /CEO Sri Lanka Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe, Group Director CEMS-Global Abhishek Das and Chairman Joint Apparel Association Forum of Sri Lanka (JAAF) Felix A. Fernando. 

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Commending the organising of 15th Sri Lankan Edition of the Textile Series of Exhibitions set for March 5th to 7th at the SLECC in Colombo, Chairman /CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe said the event is very important to encourage the local manufacturers in the apparel sector. 

Saying the country’s total export earnings have reached US$ 17.2 billion for the first time in history and 32 percent of that being from the apparel sector, the EDB Chairman reiterated that it is important to organise this kind of exhibitions that will motivate the local entrepreneurs in the garment sector. 

Wijesinghe made these remarks whilst addressing a special press briefing organised by the CEMS-Global USA to announce the 15th Sri Lankan Edition of the Textile Series of Exhibitions. 

Group CEO CEMS-Global USA S. S. Sarwar addressing the media said Sri Lankan textile and apparel industry will once again converge under one roof with this year’s exhibition and having conducted the series for 14 years successfully. 

Sarwar reaffirmed the textile exhibition’s position as the country’s most comprehensive and strategic platform providing local manufacturers with immediate access to global technology that is essential for maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly demanding export environment. 

“This year’s edition is endorsed and supported by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) and the Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE).

This is not just an exhibition; it is a strategic platform to attract prospective investors to Sri Lanka thus eventually helps to work towards increasing apparels oriented exports,” Sarwar said. 

Also present at the head table were, Chairman JAAF Felix A. Fernando, Chairperson SLAEA Rajitha Jayasuriya and Group Director of CEMS-Global Abhishek Das. The Sri Lankan edition is a part of CEMS-Global’s Textile Series of Exhibitions held annually across three continents in Bangladesh, Brazil, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Thailand.