The NES is aligned with Vision 2025 and the National Trade Policy (NTP) initiated by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), which both aim to stimulate growth and job creation by improving the ability of firms to export and compete in foreign markets.
The National Export Strategy has a separate strategy called trade information and promotion to help regional based SMEs to enter in to the export market by improving access to quality trade information and promotional services, building the capacity of the SMEs on trade related areas through various capacity building progrmmes and conducting trade promotion programmes overseas.
This will facilitate the entry of SMEs into exports by easing bureaucratic procedures and through targeted support, including trade finance solutions. Accordingly it was planned to conduct a series of Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to disseminate trade knowledge effectively to the regional officers, SME’s in the country. The first programme was held on 3rd and 4th July 2019 at the 3rd-floor auditorium of the EDB with the participation of 60 Development Officers and Regional Officers of the EDB.
At present there are 158 Development Officers attached to the EDB under the MODSIT who are stationed in the respective Divisional Secretariats in the region. This DOs will be the primary contact point for regional SMEs as well as for other stakeholders.
This seminar covered areas of Customs Import Procedures, Trans-Shipment, Bonds Procedures, Inward Processing & Entrepot Trade, Customs Refunds & Drawbacks, Customs Export Procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and System Certification Process, Product Certification Process (SLS Standards), Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) and System Certification Process, Introduction of DOC and TIP. The seminar has been very fruitful and informative, and been well received by all the Development Officers.
Mr.J.A.D.A.Perera, Deputy Director, Sri Lanka Customs, Mr.H.M.N.S.Rajaguru, Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Sri Lanka Customs, Ms. Nilakshi de Silva , Assistant Director, Sri Lank Standard institute, Mrs. Chandima Fernando, Assistant Director, Sri Lank Standard institute, Mrs. Nirmala de Zoysa, Assistant Director, Sri Lank Standard institute, Mr. Premathilake Jayakody, Deputy Director, Department of Commerce delivered presentations.
