Sri Lanka Crosses the $ Eight Billion Export Mark Minister Calls Upon Officials to Formulate a Detailed Plan for the Next Three Years
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- KARMANTHA - VANIJA Ministry of Industry & Commerce Sri Lanka KIRULA Sri Lanka Export Development Department of National Intellectual Property National Enterprise Development Sri Lanka Institute of Textile Department of the Registrar Board Commerce Office Authority & Apparel of Companies April 2011, Vol. 01 Edition 01 www.industry.gov.lk President Mahinda Rajapaksa focused on driving accelerated development of the economy in the area of industrial and commerce sectors of Sri Lanka is seen here officially handing over the subject Ministry to Minister Rishad Bathuideen in November 2010. The Minister with a strong working agenda based on RBA(results based activation) is implementing ground based tactical strategies under the guidance of Senior Advisor to the President and Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Basil Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka crosses the $ eight billion export mark Minister calls upon officials to formulate a detailed plan for the next three years The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) the prime export functioning in Sri Lanka’s Missions overseas to boost the exports. arm for driving Sri Lanka’s exports to countries around the world, The EDB officials also stated that they are focusing on the Expenditure & Earnings 2010-2011 had a review of the export performance for the first half of the year strategy of developing Agro zones to increase the production at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, chaired by Minister of of key fruits and vegetables targeting tourists destinations like the Industry of Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. Maldives. ...the gold award won by the EDB at the ...everyone ought to contribute to make Kunming Fair in China gave a head start to Sri Lanka a wonder of Asia. -- Minister the activities of the EDB for 2011. “A robust buyer – seller partnership development programme has also The Minister addressing the officials remarked that the E.D.B. has been developed and rolled out since the beginning of the year,” they some of the best officers in the public service and should endeavour added. to extend greater cooperation to the private sector by facilitating buyer / seller meetings, promotional programmes and securing It was also pointed out that the gold award won by the EDB at the Source Central Bank of Sri Lanka stalls at international fairs so that Sri Lanka could cross the eight Cuming Fair in China gave a head start to the activities of the EDB billion dollar export target in 2010 thereby exceeding the last year’s for 2010. The award was won by an integrated business approach Export earnings January 2011 + 72.4% growth performance. adopted by the EDB. The Minister emphasized that this achievement should be repeated in the future too and that everyone ought to Earnings from exports in January 2011 increased by 72.4 per cent The Minister urged the EDB to initiate specific activities based on the contribute to make Sri Lanka a wonder of Asia. year-on-year, to US dollars 813 million led by significant increases in proposals spelt out in the mini budget for the next six months and thereafter to formulate a detailed plan for the next three years aimed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Jayaratna Herath, exports of textile and garments and rubber products. In comparison at enhancing the exports thereby contributing to the narrowing Additional Secretary Mr. Janaka Sugathadasa, Chairman Export to January 2008, exports have increased by 47.3 per cent. Expenditure down of the budget deficit to below 5% in the future, in keeping Development Board Mr. Janaka Ratnayake, Executive Director Export on imports increased by 21.3 per cent to US dollars 1,501 million in with the government strategy. Development Board Dr. Marikkar, the new Board members Director- January 2011, mainly due to increases in imports of motor vehicles, General Mrs. Sujatha Weerakoon and senior officials were also electrical equipment and transport equipment. Accordingly, the trade present at the review meeting. The officials of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board explained deficit in January 2011 narrowed by 10.2 per cent, year-on-year, to US how the Board uses sophisticated forecasting models like “Export “Export earnings must strengthen our economy, the Government is dollars 688 million. Prediction Models,” linking programmes with Commercial Attaches prepared to extend its fullest support.” -- Minister. - KARMANTHA - VANIJA Ministry of Industry & Commerce KIRULA 2 Senior Presidential Advisor & Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa explaining the Divi Neguma concept to senior government officials at the launch meeting held recently One million economic units aim to strengthen the rural population With the abundance of the Aluth Avurudda in the air, the brainchild participation in order to improve their nutrition level and livelihood. An awareness campaign on this project will be conducted island- ofSenior Advisor to President &Minister of Economic Development Pensioners, senior citizens, woman and clergy have expressed their wide and a special card will be issued to the people who will Hon. Basil Rajapaksa to establish one million home economic support to the programme which involves greater participation of become the partners of this purpose. units in the country which was spearheaded on January 22 this the people so that their own nutritional levels and livelihoods are year was received with tears of appreciation and gratitude as the improved. Rishad Bathuideen Minister of Industry and Commerce, unprecedented economic benefits were realized by the rural people. NimalSiripala De Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Elaborating on this unique programme the MinisterBasil Rajapaksa Resources Management, AnuraPriyadarshanaYapa, Minister of The overwhelming response and appreciation of the general public to said that four key government officials who will have direct contacts Environment, PavithraWanniarachchi, Minister of Technology and the Divi Neguma initiative validated the endorsement of the public to with the public will, under this programme, will be in charge of the Research, MahindaYapaAbeywardena, Minister of Agriculture, the government’s efforts to strengthen the rural population. project. SalindaDissanayake, Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Reginald Cooray, Minister of Small Export Crops Promotion, S.M Chandrasena, This life changing project was launched on January 22, 2011, after Thus, Agrarian Research Officer, Samurdhi Officer, Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife, MuthuSivalingam, Deputy which the minister held discussions focusingon enhancing the living GramsewaNiladhari and family planning officers have been named as Minister of Economic Development, LakshmanYapaAbeywardena, standards of the people and strengthening their economic level with the co-coordinators of the entire project. Deputy Minister of Economic Development, H R Mithrapala, the assistance of administrative bodies of the Government. Deputy Minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development, The project involves home economic units which will be put into Beneficiary families will be directly supervised by these officials WeerakumaraDissanayake, Deputy Minister of Traditional Industries practice in the coming Yala and Maha seasons. It is learnt the to ascertain the effectiveness of the programme. Several sectors and Small Enterprise Development, P B Jayasundara, Secretary t identification of areas where these economic units are to be set up including agriculture, industries, self-employments, fisheries, live-stocks, o the Ministry of Finance and Planning and W B Ganegala, Secretary will be completed during the first part of the year 2011. small crops exporters, animal husbandry, dairy industries and home to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information participated in this garden will thus be strengthened with the direct support of the discussion District level meetings with the participation of senior citizens, government. government officials, parliamentarians was held in several areas up Awareness programmes were held by the Minister in Kalutara, to April 5 in an attempt to build awareness on healthy and wealthy Explaining further Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that the government Ratnapura, Kegalle. Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Matale, Kandy, lifestyle through the setting up of these one million domestic will help the people to initiate the domestic economic units but NuwaraEliya, Hambantota, Monaragala and Galle since the launch of economic units. This national programme was initiated with peoples maintaining them will be the responsibility of the people. this iconic programme in January this year. Minister appoints task force to accelerate ...a high level task force progress of the Industrial Sector to recommend a new Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has appointed a high The seven member committee is headed by Chairman of strategy to drive the level task force to recommend a new strategy to drive the Industrial Sector the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and former Unilever Industrial Sector of Sri of Sri Lanka in order to exploit the new-found opportunities in the post-war Director, Dr. Anura Ekanayake, former Chairman of Sri Lanka economic landscape of Sri Lanka, said the Ministry. Export Development Board and Head of National Portfolio Development Lanka so that it can United Nations Office(UNOPS) Rohantha Athukorala, Engineering The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is one of the stronger ministries exploit the new found Design Specialist of the University of Moratuwa, Prof. Kapila Jayasinghe, that has been