USAID, CCC, SLEDB collaborate to boost regional SME exports

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Partnership for Accelerating Results in Trade, National Expenditure and Revenue (PARTNER) activity, with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), has completed an on-the-job coaching programme for 50 development officers (DOs) attached to the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB). 

At an award ceremony recently, the SLEDB, USAID PARTNER and CCC recognised the officers for completion of the coaching programme, which included a three-day residential programme followed by a one-month self-coaching programme, guided by experienced master coaches. The coaching prepared the officers to mentor other DOs attached to the SLEDB, tasked with uplifting the export potential of regional small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka.

SLEDB Chairman Dr. Kingsley Bernard stated, “I strongly believe that this programme has empowered the EDB officers and Dos, with knowledge to strengthen the capacity of regional SMEs, enabling these businesses to connect with the export value chain and to enter the international market. Finally, this will help improve regional-level export figures and ultimately, increase the overall income of the country.” 

The coaching for 50 DOs is a sustainability initiative, which was delivered as a follow-on to a larger capacity building programme supported by the USAID PARTNER, with the CCC as the implementing partner from August 2021 to April 2023. In total, 317 DOs attached to the EDB across Sri Lanka participated in a five-day curriculum-based classroom training to enhance their ability to support regional SMEs to reach export potential.

“Playing a significant role as the implementing partner of this collaborative initiative underscores the CCC’s commitment to fortifying Sri Lanka’s export landscape and empowering our SMEs with the knowledge and tools to ensure enhanced competitiveness and sustainable growth,” said CCC Deputy Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri.

In Sri Lanka, the USAID supports the SMEs with direct technical and financial assistance, while working closely with the stakeholders to improve the enabling environment that impacts the SME competitiveness. USAID Mission Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Gabriel Grau underscored the USAID’s commitment to inclusive private sector-led growth, stating, “SME businesses are at the forefront of businesses affected by Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. The ongoing critical reforms in Sri Lanka    are essential for the country to reemerge as a resilient economy, with small businesses continuing to be the engine of commerce and growth. By offering technical assistance, the United States, through the USAID, aims to help boost Sri Lankan exports, create jobs and ultimately, contribute to putting money back into the pockets 
of citizens.”   

The EDB is Sri Lanka’s apex organisation for the promotion and development of exports established in 1979. 
The USAID’s PARTNER Activity is a US $ 19 million, five-year initiative to minimise bottlenecks to trade, bolster foreign direct investment and strengthen the capacity of SMEs, private sector associations and chambers of commerce to promote a vibrant private sector in Sri Lanka. PARTNER is one component of the long-standing partnership between the American and Sri Lankan people to support self-reliance and promote a healthy, educated and employed population. To find out more about USAID’s work, please see usaid.gov/sri-lanka. 

The CCC is the oldest business chamber in Sri Lanka and a leading representative voice of the private sector. It is a confederation of trade associations, regional and sectoral chambers of commerce and industry, bilateral business councils and employer organisations in Sri Lanka.