Thursday, July 18, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Tunisia invites Lankan apparel suppliers for a joint venture
Tunisia, the fifth phosphate producer in the world and a high end, high speed apparel supplier to European fashion world is showing a new opening for Lankan apparel supply chains. And Tunisia is agog over Sri Lanka’s growth rates. “We are almost taken up by your strong GDP growth rates that exceed 6%. I congratulate Sri Lanka for its spectacular growth. When you specially compare with the world economic growth rate, it’s such a leading rate” said Tarek Azouz, Ambassador of Tunisia to Sri Lanka on Wednesday (10).
Azouz was addressing Rishad Bathiudeen Minister of Industry & Commerce during his courtesy call on Minister Bathiudeen at EDB premises in Colombo. Also present along with Minister Bathiudeen were Anura Siriwardena Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Bandula Egodage Chairman, Export Development Board and officials from the Department of Commerce.
According to the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Tunisia does not show a growing trend or a regular pattern during the past five years. The overall trade transaction between the two countries is almost negligible, at less than one million Dollars ($ 0.64 Mn) in 2012. The main exports from Sri Lanka are rubber products, garments and tea.
“We are working towards getting down a Tunisian delegation to the forthcoming CHOGM sessions in Colombo. We get our Tea supplies from Sri Lanka and we prefer Ceylon Tea simply due to its high quality. Besides Algeria, we are the other supplier of Golden Deglet Noor dates to the world.
"We are now looking to enter into MoUs with various business and commerce chambers in Colombo so that bilateral trade linkages can kick-start through exchange of business delegations. We intend to show around our well-known technology, biology and pharmaceutical parks located in provinces to visiting Sri Lankan delegations.
"Due to our close proximity to EU markets and the trade arrangements with EU due to the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement, the high-end garments and apparel we export are manufactured based on the Just in Time (JiT) practices and within three days of their production, the apparels are available for sale in the counters of most European fashion retailers!
"Also, since Tunisia is a virgin market for Sri Lankan exporters, you can involve Tunisia as part of your export market diversification plan” said Azouz and added: “Tunisia is going through the first wave of liberalisation and privatisation process. We invite Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers to come into joint ventures with Tunisian apparel producers and use our close proximity to EU and our Just in Time apparel practices to increase their access to EU markets in such short (turnaround) times.”
In 1995, Tunisia became the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the EU. As a result of the agreement, a Free Trade Area (FTA) between EU and Tunisia came into being in 2008 for industrial products, which in turn, includes apparels.
Minister Bathiudeen, addressing Azouz, said that with almost negligible trade level between both countries, each other’s markets are virgin markets with vast development potential and therefore the unrealised trade potential is huge. The Minister further said that as fertiliser is being imported to Sri Lanka at high cost, Sri Lanka would welcome keen Tunisian investors and phosphate producers to Sri Lanka for ventures here to produce fertiliser at low costs.
Tunisian phosphate sector is ranked as the fifth largest in the overall global phosphate industry and Tunisia is also considered as a leading country in mineral fertiliser production.
Lankan business delegation in South Africa
The visit of a Sri Lankan business delegation to South Africa is a joint initiative of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Pretoria and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and Tea Board for the participation of Sri Lankan exporters at the SAITEX 2013 International Trade fair held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from June 30 to July 2.
Leading Sri Lankan companies - DSI Tyres, Kelani Cables, Rathna Cinnamon Producers and Exporters, Queens Workwear, Nature's Secrets and Lalan Rubber - exhibited at the Sri Lanka pavilion while Basilur Tea Exporters and Sunshine Tea Exporters were at the Tea Board pavilion at the exhibition.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka organised a trade seminar in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg named 'Trade seminar -Joburg Vs Sri Lanka' on July 1, attracting more than 100 companies at the auditorium of the same venne.
Commercial Secretary, Sri Lanka High Commission, Nalika Kodikara made a comprehensive presentation, inviting leading companies to participate at the Commonwealth Business Forum to be held in Sri Lanka in November.
A business matchmaking program was organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce with the participation of members of the Cape Chamber and the ANC Progressive Business Forum (ANC-PBF). The session was chaired by the Co-Convenor of the ANC - PBF Renier Schoeman and past president of the Chamber Joe Emeran and the Commercial Secretary of the High Commission. Participation at the SAITEX international trade fair would help companies to strengthen their business relations with existing buyers and also to find new buyers.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lanka rejuvenates a crucial export setup
news.lk - 12/07/2013
“Today is an important day in Sri Lanka’s exports sector. We are appointing the Advisory Committees of Sri Lanka’s premier national exports organization, the EDB, and also launching the next international mega event in our exports calendar which is the ‘EXPO 2014” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: “The global markets continue to show changing demand patterns, not only due to the recent global economic crisis but also as a result of long term fundamental changes in overall global consumption and shifting world market patterns. For example, 66% of the world market and population growth in the next century is expected to come from Africa."
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the soft launch of Expo 2014 and appointment of members to the 26 Advisory Committees,at the EDB event held at Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo, Thursday (11).
“Export sector contributes 17% to the GDP. However, this sector has become more and more challenging for us. Therefore it is now time that we enhance our on-going market and product diversification even further. About 54% of our exports are still concentrated on EU and NAFTA markets” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.
The Minister observed that the rapid growth in China’s household consumption and their growing use of raw material has enabled it to become a major destination for our exports and in fact, the BRICS grouping is a promising new destination, for us. Therefore it is now time, that we enhance, our on-going market, and product diversification efforts, even further, said Minister Bathiudeen. About 54% of our exports, are still concentrated, on EU and NAFTA markets.
Minister Bathiudeen pointed out that there are two segments with strong potential to become export growth drivers in the coming years. These two segments are Sri Lanka's high tech exports and export of services and they need even closer attention when formulating future export strategies. Even though Sri Lanka's high tech and value added exports are only 1.5% of total exports, The Minister said the recent budgetary measures to upgrade our research and development infrastructure with the cooperation of private sector, is a positive step in this regard.
Sri Lanka's export sector after witnessing, two years of rapid growth in 2010 & 2011 experienced a setback in 2012 similar to many other countries in the region. However despite these temporary setbacks, export goal of US $ 20 Billion by 2020, under the committed economic vision of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa remains the same.
The second in the revived international export fair in Colombo, Expo 2014 has now been tentatively scheduled for August 2014. It will be followed by the forthcoming CHOGM trade fair in November in Colombo
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| Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry & Commerce) addresses the ‘Soft launch of Expo 2014 and appointment of members to the 26 Advisory Committees of the EDB’ event held at Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo on 11 July. |
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| Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry & Commerce-centre) launches Expo 2014 mega fair at the ‘Soft launch of Expo 2014 and appointment of members to the Advisory Committees’ event held at Kingsbury Hotel |
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the soft launch of Expo 2014 and appointment of members to the 26 Advisory Committees,at the EDB event held at Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo, Thursday (11).
“Export sector contributes 17% to the GDP. However, this sector has become more and more challenging for us. Therefore it is now time that we enhance our on-going market and product diversification even further. About 54% of our exports are still concentrated on EU and NAFTA markets” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.
The Minister observed that the rapid growth in China’s household consumption and their growing use of raw material has enabled it to become a major destination for our exports and in fact, the BRICS grouping is a promising new destination, for us. Therefore it is now time, that we enhance, our on-going market, and product diversification efforts, even further, said Minister Bathiudeen. About 54% of our exports, are still concentrated, on EU and NAFTA markets.
Minister Bathiudeen pointed out that there are two segments with strong potential to become export growth drivers in the coming years. These two segments are Sri Lanka's high tech exports and export of services and they need even closer attention when formulating future export strategies. Even though Sri Lanka's high tech and value added exports are only 1.5% of total exports, The Minister said the recent budgetary measures to upgrade our research and development infrastructure with the cooperation of private sector, is a positive step in this regard.
Sri Lanka's export sector after witnessing, two years of rapid growth in 2010 & 2011 experienced a setback in 2012 similar to many other countries in the region. However despite these temporary setbacks, export goal of US $ 20 Billion by 2020, under the committed economic vision of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa remains the same.
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Banduala Egodage, Chairman of EDB, addressing the event, said: “Setting up this Advisory Committee is a statutory requirement. This is one of the biggest advisory committees to be appointed under any single institution in Sri Lanka, with almost 400 brains in just one committee. I urge the fullest cooperation of the 400 members for us to get out of this export slump situation.”
The second in the revived international export fair in Colombo, Expo 2014 has now been tentatively scheduled for August 2014. It will be followed by the forthcoming CHOGM trade fair in November in Colombo
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Sri Lanka has opportunities in export food processing
Prema-chandra Athukorale, professor of economics at Australian National University said in Thailand 23 percent of non-oil exports were processed foods and in Vietnam it was 27 percent and in Sri Lanka only 5.0 percent.
He said global food habits were changing and there were opportunities for Asia food exporters.
"When I first went to Australia it was sometimes difficult to get rice," he told an annual economic policy summit organized by Sri Lanka's Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
"But now there is an Asian section in every supermarket, and white Australians buy them."
In Sri Lanka the Eastern costs which had emerged from a 30-year war presented opportunities for aquaculture, he said.
At the moment Vietnam is helping Sri Lanka prepare a master plan for aquaculture and is also transferring technology to the island through a series of pilot projects.
Athukorale said exports of foods tied in with the current Sri Lanka administrations aim of developing agriculture.
Athukorale said industries should have an export orientation and be competitive while tariff protection import substitution industries tended to fail and has also failed in Sri Lanka in the past.
Free trade advocates say tariff protected industries go through the motions of production while fleecing and oppressing the poorest in society but make profits by arbitrating the tax differential.
Athukorale said it was helpful to have links and investments from the exported country especially due to tight food and sanitary standards imposed by developed nations.
In the case of Australia he said Mitsui, a big Japanese conglomerate that had an abattoir in Australia had helped get over potential problems and import restrictions, he said.
Analysts say Sri Lanka tea growing and manufacturing industry also grew in the 1800s with foreign direct investment mainly from the UK as the British developed a taste first for coffee and then for tea.
It is not clear whether made tea was considered a processed tea.
Athukorale said in East Asia there was a strong link with foreign direct investments and exports and a conducive environment was needed for investors to come.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Govt. says new standards for Ceylon Cinnamon to boost Sri Lanka’s exports
Daily Mirror - 10/07/2013
By Ashwin Hemmathagama
New regulations were tabled in Parliament yesterday to standardize and improve the quality of the centuries old cinnamon industry in Sri Lanka by shifting the focus from popular export crops – tea, coconut, and rubber – to the value added cinnamon in the international market.
These regulations published in the Gazette Extraordinary 1813/15, prohibits the export of crushed or ground cinnamon, cinnamon organic, cinnamon quills cut, cinnamon in retail packs of 1kg or less, cinnamon featherings, and cinnamon chips, or cinnamon in any other form being exported without the SLS81:2010 certification specified for Ceylon cinnamon.
According to the new regulation, the Government expects all cinnamon exporters to furnish a certificate of conformity with the Sri Lanka Standard stipulated for cinnamon issued by either laboratory accredited for testing of the particular article or a laboratory recognized by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in addition to the certificate of clearance issued by the Director General of Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
According to Minister of International Monetary Co-operation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Sarath Amunugama, the new regulations will enable the authorities to develop the brand “Sri Lanka cinnamon”, which will be of high quality and able to compete in global markets against the substandard cassia.
“Cinnamon is what brought foreign invaders – the Portuguese, Dutch, and English to Sri Lanka. This traditional cinnamon trade survived for several centuries and now at the verge of collapse unless its quality improves and a brand is developed,” the Deputy Minister said.
Amunugama said that equal recognition should be given to cinnamon industry, which employs over 350,000 families. “We receive an annual income of US$100 million from the cinnamon sector where exports have reached 13,000MT. However, the competition is getting tense despite the economic downturn in Europe. As a result, the demand has reduced and substandard cinnamon products made out of cassia have emerged,” he explained.
The new regulations would enable Sri Lanka to brand Cinnamon grown in this country as ‘Sri Lanka Cinnamon’ similar to the branding of Ceylon Tea. “We will also train the families engaged in cinnamon trade and arm them with the latest technology. We need to stop low quality cinnamon exports,” said Minister Dr.Amunugama moving the regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act.
Prime Minister and Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs D.M. Jayaratne who approved the Government move to standardize the cinnamon trade suggested exporting indigenous fruits and vegetables. According to Prime Minister, exporting fruits and vegetables “especially to China will help to reduce the widening trade deficit”.
By Ashwin Hemmathagama
New regulations were tabled in Parliament yesterday to standardize and improve the quality of the centuries old cinnamon industry in Sri Lanka by shifting the focus from popular export crops – tea, coconut, and rubber – to the value added cinnamon in the international market.
These regulations published in the Gazette Extraordinary 1813/15, prohibits the export of crushed or ground cinnamon, cinnamon organic, cinnamon quills cut, cinnamon in retail packs of 1kg or less, cinnamon featherings, and cinnamon chips, or cinnamon in any other form being exported without the SLS81:2010 certification specified for Ceylon cinnamon.
According to the new regulation, the Government expects all cinnamon exporters to furnish a certificate of conformity with the Sri Lanka Standard stipulated for cinnamon issued by either laboratory accredited for testing of the particular article or a laboratory recognized by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in addition to the certificate of clearance issued by the Director General of Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
According to Minister of International Monetary Co-operation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Sarath Amunugama, the new regulations will enable the authorities to develop the brand “Sri Lanka cinnamon”, which will be of high quality and able to compete in global markets against the substandard cassia.
“Cinnamon is what brought foreign invaders – the Portuguese, Dutch, and English to Sri Lanka. This traditional cinnamon trade survived for several centuries and now at the verge of collapse unless its quality improves and a brand is developed,” the Deputy Minister said.
Amunugama said that equal recognition should be given to cinnamon industry, which employs over 350,000 families. “We receive an annual income of US$100 million from the cinnamon sector where exports have reached 13,000MT. However, the competition is getting tense despite the economic downturn in Europe. As a result, the demand has reduced and substandard cinnamon products made out of cassia have emerged,” he explained.
The new regulations would enable Sri Lanka to brand Cinnamon grown in this country as ‘Sri Lanka Cinnamon’ similar to the branding of Ceylon Tea. “We will also train the families engaged in cinnamon trade and arm them with the latest technology. We need to stop low quality cinnamon exports,” said Minister Dr.Amunugama moving the regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act.
Prime Minister and Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs D.M. Jayaratne who approved the Government move to standardize the cinnamon trade suggested exporting indigenous fruits and vegetables. According to Prime Minister, exporting fruits and vegetables “especially to China will help to reduce the widening trade deficit”.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Gems and jewellery sector records strong growth
Sunday Observer - 07/07/2013
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The country’s gem and jewellery industry continues its growth momentum with increased export revenue for the first six months of 2013.“We could observe a steady growth in export revenue generation. The growth momentum in the sector augurs well for related industries where its contribution to the national economy becoming more significant,” said Chairman and CEO National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Amitha Gamage.
“We are confident that if this growth momentum continues the gem, jewellery and diamond sector will reach $ one billion by 2016, he said.
The NGJA being the Government body mandated to develop, regulate and promote the gem and jewellery industry in Sri Lanka has organised Sri Lankan Pavilions in several international gem and jewellery exhibitions in China, USA and Singapore.
These countries have been identified as booming markets for gem and jewellery.
Gamage said that the NGJA representative at the annual conference of International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) spoke on the importance of organising ICA 2015 Congress in Sri Lanka, an important gem bearing country.
He said that by hosting ICA Congress 2015 in Sri Lanka, the NGJA hopes to gain immense publicity for Sri Lankan gems, traditional and modern Sri Lankan craftsmanship, highly skilled gem cutting facility and the hospitality of Sri Lankans. The event could help build a strong image of the country.NGJA organised the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the JCK Las Vegas Show, one of the biggest gem and jewellery exhibitions in the international event calendar from May 31 to June 2. The NGJA Pavilion had eight Sri Lankan gem trading companies, where there was demand for jewellery made out of precious metals such as gold, platinum and base metals. Therefore, the NGJA plans to further promote Sri Lankan jewellery manufacturers at the JCK Las Vegas 2014 exhibition.
Gamage said that NGJA will encourage the gem and jewellery trading community to venture into new markets such as Poland, Russia, Ukraine and will organise ‘Sri Lanka Pavilions’ at two gem and jewellery exhibitions in China this year. Exhibitions of this nature will the pave way for exposure and opportunities for the gem and jewellery industry to introduce world-renowned brands in Sri Lanka for backward integration keeping in line with the Government’s development strategy which emphasises value addition to make products globally competitive.
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The country’s gem and jewellery industry continues its growth momentum with increased export revenue for the first six months of 2013.“We could observe a steady growth in export revenue generation. The growth momentum in the sector augurs well for related industries where its contribution to the national economy becoming more significant,” said Chairman and CEO National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Amitha Gamage.
“We are confident that if this growth momentum continues the gem, jewellery and diamond sector will reach $ one billion by 2016, he said.
The NGJA being the Government body mandated to develop, regulate and promote the gem and jewellery industry in Sri Lanka has organised Sri Lankan Pavilions in several international gem and jewellery exhibitions in China, USA and Singapore.
These countries have been identified as booming markets for gem and jewellery.
Gamage said that the NGJA representative at the annual conference of International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) spoke on the importance of organising ICA 2015 Congress in Sri Lanka, an important gem bearing country.
He said that by hosting ICA Congress 2015 in Sri Lanka, the NGJA hopes to gain immense publicity for Sri Lankan gems, traditional and modern Sri Lankan craftsmanship, highly skilled gem cutting facility and the hospitality of Sri Lankans. The event could help build a strong image of the country.NGJA organised the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the JCK Las Vegas Show, one of the biggest gem and jewellery exhibitions in the international event calendar from May 31 to June 2. The NGJA Pavilion had eight Sri Lankan gem trading companies, where there was demand for jewellery made out of precious metals such as gold, platinum and base metals. Therefore, the NGJA plans to further promote Sri Lankan jewellery manufacturers at the JCK Las Vegas 2014 exhibition.
Gamage said that NGJA will encourage the gem and jewellery trading community to venture into new markets such as Poland, Russia, Ukraine and will organise ‘Sri Lanka Pavilions’ at two gem and jewellery exhibitions in China this year. Exhibitions of this nature will the pave way for exposure and opportunities for the gem and jewellery industry to introduce world-renowned brands in Sri Lanka for backward integration keeping in line with the Government’s development strategy which emphasises value addition to make products globally competitive.
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