EDB to host international delegation at SLDF 2014

Daily FT - 05/12/2014

Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) 2014, which is backed by local industries and the Government, is scheduled to kick off over the next few days.

The main objective of the festival is to promote design driven exports as a major economic sector for the country. For this reason, SLDF is supported by Sri Lanka’s apex institute for driving exports, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).

Together with the EDB, SLDF’s fashion edition is held under the theme ‘From manufacturing to branding’, encompassing Sri Lanka move towards a brand-driven future with regional hub status in design.
In light of this, SLDF will join hands with EDB to draw international attention to the massive potential of emerging exports like contemporary handloom fashion.

Using SLDF as a platform to gain worldwide recognition for the growing potential of handlooms as a high fashion export, EDB is hosting an international delegation of buyers, fashion opinion leaders, media, retailers and fashion presentation experts from Europe, North America, India, etc. This delegation will be direct buyers, promoters and ambassadors for local design driven exports.

EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Bandula Egodage stated that SLDF’s objectives to promote traditional crafts revitalised through design such as handloom, aligns closely with EDB’s mission to discover, develop and promote new design exports from the country.

“EDB is an institution dedicated to strengthening existing exports and promoting new exports for Sri Lanka. SLDF plays an important part in helping us in this mission by integrating design into traditional sectors like handloom and crafts to revive them as new exports for Sri Lanka.

“We find it crucial for our exports to meet the needs of the global market and evolve as high quality products and we’re proud to be part of the process of traditional cottage industries transforming into potential power exports with SLDF 2014. We have supported SLDF for the past few years and in 2014 too we are delighted to support the event as key stakeholders,” Egodage said.

In addition to hosting a powerful international delegation of ambassadors for Sri Lankan design-driven exports, EDB has also extended its support to host an impressive fashion display of contemporary handloom fashion, produced and presented by an international team of experts.

This dazzling display of locally woven textiles as high-end fashion includes a range of cutting-edge collections targeting global consumers and the launch of an e-commerce platform where European and North America consumers can directly purchase Sri Lanka handloom online.

SLDF 2014, the national celebration of design supported by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, will include an exciting and educational range of forums, exhibitions and shows which will be held at SLECC from 5-7 December.

In addition to the EDB, SLDF is also supported by the Ministry of Economic Development, Sri Lanka Tourism and Sri Lanka Apparel as key stakeholders. Brandix Lanka Ltd. and MAS Holdings are the official fashion industry patrons while other supporters include Coats Thread Lanka – official thread and zip partners, GT Nexus – official technology partner, Daily FT/Daily Mirror/Sunday Times – official print media, MTV/MBC – official electronic media, Mount Lavinia – official venue partner, Triad – official communications partner and Cheryl Gooneratne Hair & Beauty Academy – official hair & makeup partner, Sunshine Travels – official travel partner and Pico – official exhibitor logistics partner.

Visegrád Four to synergise Lanka's FTAs to penetrate South Asia

Daily News - 04/12/2014

The V4 industrial economy billed as the Tetra Tiger due to its high growth, has revealed for the first time that it wants to synergise Lanka's historic FTAs to penetrate South Asia, and it is also readying for new bilateral efforts of high capacity across the board-in Lanka's wheat production, energy and even defence.

"Our aim is to make Sri Lanka our business and investment platform to South Asia. There are many Slovakian manufacturers ready to invest here, produce and export to South Asian markets using your FTAs with India and Pakistan," said Peter Burian, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic recently.


V4 stands for Visegrád Four (or Visegrád Group) -an alliance of four Central European states of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia who grouped as V4 in 1991 to further their EU integration and was also called as the 'Tetra Tiger' due to its raging GDP growth up-to 2007. State Secretary Burian was making a courtesy call on Minister Bathiudeen with two members of his official delegation to Sri Lanka. Joining Minister Bathiudeen at the in-depth discussions were Bandula Egodage (Chairman & CEO-EDB) and other top EDB officials.

"Our intention is to renew trade with Sri Lanka. It is time to leverage the political friendship and understanding between both countries towards trade and investment promotion at both sides. We have something to offer in every aspect of Sri Lanka's five hub development strategy," said State Secretary Burian.

"We are very interested in SME and industrial cooperation with Sri Lanka-there are many Slovakian manufacturers ready to invest here, produce and export to South Asian markets using your FTAs with India and Pakistan."

"Our main export to Slovakia is apparel. With the efforts of my Department of Commerce and EDB, we have diversified our exports to Slovakia beyond apparel, with tyres, coconut fibre, rubber tubes and other textile articles. Still there is great, unrealised trade potentials that we need to explore since $ 21 million total trade shows that we are largely virgin markets to each other. And since 95% of our exports to Slovakia are our apparels, we invite Slovakian investments to this sector as well."

Minister Bathiudeen said, "We import almost 900,000 metric tonnes of wheat annually and therefore your support to kick-start our wheat production could save our foreign exchange considerably."

Over US$ 1b gems to China by 2016

Daily News - 05/12/2014

Sri Lanka could bridge the trade imbalance with China to a greater extent and also increase the US$ one billion overall export target in 2016, if the local gem/precious stone exports were encouraged and developed. At present there is a huge trade gap in favor of China, Director Marketing and Export -National Gem and Jewellery Authority, Rohan Perera said.

"We are now looking at increasing gem export to China being the biggest buyer in the recent past. Since, China being a prosperous country in the world the demand for super luxury items like gems has increased considerably," Perera told the Daily News Business.

As far as Sri Lanka exports are concerned, China is the 18th largest export market for Sri Lanka with exports of US$ 121 million in 2013, one percent of total exports of Sri Lanka against the import of US$ 3 billion worth of goods to Sri Lanka

This shows that there is huge un-favorable trade balance between the two countries.

The positive list of products may include large number of products in the proposed FTA, but the issue is whether Sri Lanka could supply all the products.

Perera said that with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) many Chinese buyers will tend to buy gemstones especially blue sapphire.

Therefore, we could bridge the trade gap and also increase gem exports to US$ one billion by 2016, he said.

The government has very good ambitious schemes to increase gem export. he added.

Director Marketing and Export authority being the regulator developer and promoter of the sector have launched may projects to promote the sector by encouraging new players to achieve set targets.

Further, they also encourage all gem exporters to participate in international trade fairs and exhibitions, he said.

China could supply any volume of its products. Out of the 30 products exported to China, five products, apparel, tea fibre, tobacco and rubber cover nearly 75 percent of exports to China.

20 IT SMEs in EDB’s first Jaffna Export Forum today

Daily FT - 05/12/2014

• ‘30 more would be entrepreneurs too’: SLAASCOM’s Sekaram
• ‘$ 5B IT exports by 2020’: EDB’s Egodage
• ‘Cloud tech helping regional IT’: SLAASCOM’s Sekaram2103 IT exports at $ 719 m

Sri Lanka’s apex export facilitator EDB’s first IT event in Jaffna has been boosted by an influx of Jaffna based operators and would be ICT entrepreneurs on 4 December and the event also packs in-depth industry presentations from no less than seven top Lankan IT firms.

“Almost 20 SME IT operators in Jaffna region have registered for 5 December’s IT/BPM Export Forum in Jaffna. Another 30 prospective IT entrepreneurs from Jaffna who are looking to set-up, too have joined making it a total of 50 players,” said SLASSCOM Vice Chairman Mano Sekaram on 4 December in Colombo.

Sekaram was discussing in Colombo on the progress of first ever IT/BPM Export Forum and Entrepreneurship Workshop to be held in Jaffna on 5 December at Jaffna’s Tilko City Hotel. Held on the theme of ‘Accelerating IT Exports and Fostering Entrepreneurship’, the one day, one-of-a-kind session is scheduled for presentations from seven Lankan IT leaders – Ruwindhu Peiris (Managing Director of Stax Inc), Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana (Founder, Chairman and CEO of WSO2), Mangala Karunaratne (Founder and CEO of Calcey), Dr. Harsha Subasinghe (CEO & Chief System Architect of CodeGen), Dr. Arul Sivagananathan (Managing Director Hayleys Industrial Solutions and Hayleys BPO), Mano Sekeram (Co-Founder and CEO of 99X Technology) and Madu Ratnayake (Head of Digital, SVP & General Manager at Virtusa) – as well as top two public sector agencies (presentations by Saman Maldeni-Director–Export Services of EDB, Reshan Dewapura (CEO of ICTA) and Fayaz Hudah (Program Head of ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).

“Almost 20 SME IT operators in Jaffna region have registered for 5 December’s IT/BPM Export Forum in Jaffna. Another 30 prospective IT entrepreneurs from Jaffna who are looking to set-up, too have joined making it a total of 50 players,” said Sekaram, and added: “What is important is that not only we already have 50 registrants, but they are SME operators in both hardware and software with entrepreneurial side. The old way of doing IT exports is that being a domestic producer in Colombo, you enter the export market but with the cloud powered technologies and overall online connectivity across the country, its different today.”

The IT/BPM Export Forum runs in parallel to ‘Jaffna IT Week’, that began on 3 December and ends on 6 December in Jaffna. The event comprises of Future Careers Program (on 3, 4 December at the Vembadi Girls’ High School), the 5 December’s IT/BPM Export Forum and Jaffna IT Conference (at the Kailasapathy Auditorium of University of Jaffna on 6 December). The Export Development Board (EDB) is partnering SLASSCOM in this initiative with Information and Communications Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), the Ministry of Education, the University of Jaffna and the Yarl IT Hub.

EDB Chairman and CEO Bandula Egodage said: “SLAASCOM, ICTA, EDB and all the IT/BPM firms are setting up a new milestone. EDB is a facilitator in this event. The Government is focusing on IT/BPM sector since it is the future. When it comes to non-traditional exports development, IT plays a major role. Huge improvements are seen and also needed for us to achieve $ 5 billion IT/BPM exports by 2020. In 2013, IT exports stood at $ 719 million. Currently IT is concentrated in Colombo but the way forward is taking them to regions starting with Tier 2 cities. Jaffna is the third city after focusing on Kandy and Galle.  When it comes to EDB, we have conducted IT related events, conferences, trade exhibitions, both locally and foreign. We also conducted export coaching programmes for IT.”

New dimension in Lankan fashion and apparel to debut at SLDF 2014

Daily FT - 02/12/2014

Sri Lanka Design Festival’s 2014 fashion edition is taking shape with a preview into Sri Lanka’s brand-led future in fashion. Taking a giant step forward from the country’s longstanding reputation as a sustainable and technologically advanced manufacturing destination, Sri Lanka is about to forge its reputation as a fashion industry with its own brands. Sri Lanka Design Festival is the platform for this major step for Sri Lanka, and its sixth successful fashion edition is scheduled to unfold this week.

Big brands and bigger names; fashion and apparel celebrities at SLDF

SLDF 2014 will bring down a number of apparel big names and leaders in fashion to witness Sri Lanka’s fashion evolution. The dynamic duo Martin Raymond and Chris Sanderson from The Future Laboratory revolutionary trend forecasting, research and brand innovation consultancy who have presented thought-provoking ideas in UK, US, Germany, Australia, Denmark and have an impressive clientele including  Louis Vuitton, M&S, Microsoft and BMW etc. will be speaking at SLDF.
Other influential personalities visiting Sri Lanka for the festival include Kurt Cavano – the founder and chief strategy officer of GT Nexus – featured among World Trade Magazines world’s 50 most influential business people and a seasoned veteran on technology and innovation related to fashion.
Among the renowned personalities speaking at SLDF is Peter Ingwersen – the former LEVIS director for Europe. Peter is highly passionate about Sri Lankan fashion and the immense potential it holds to deliver something unique to the world. His several decades’ worth experience on building global brands is now to be shared in Sri Lanka. Hailing from a fashion supply chain background, Giles Watkins – Coats Commercial Director of Global Services is also attending the forum to share his expertise on building brands in foreign landscapes.
Former editor of Elle India Nonita Kalra who is an expert on Indian fashion markets and consumers is also among the elite fashion names visiting SLDF this year. Another distinguished personality for SLDF 2014 includes Jane Rapley OBE who has become an icon in British design and was honoured with Queen’s Order of the British Empire, for leading the team that launched the careers of some of the most legendary names in design, including Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Matthew Williamson. Other delegates include seasoned fashion educator and designer Jane Gottelier, experienced colour theorist Janet Best and British designer/educationalist Patrick Gottelier.
Among Sri Lankan apparel big names participating in SLDF this year as speakers is CEO of Brandix Lanka Ltd. Ashroff Omar and Chairman of MAS Holdings, Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean. The festival is due to see other local fashion brand leaders such as Ajay Amalean – Managing Director of amanté/Director of MAS holdings as well as Arshad Sattar – Director of Avirate/Timex Garments.


Fastest ticket to a brand-led future; South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum
With over 100 professionals in apparel manufacturing, supply chain services, ethical fashion, retail brands, media and opinion leaders the fifth annual South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum (SAALF) will be held this December as part of Sri Lanka Design Festival. This forum aims to bring together the most cutting-edge international knowledge on building brands. With expert insights into global consumer behaviour patterns, technology, the pros and the cons for Sri Lanka as well as first-hand experiences in building brands at home and abroad from those who have truly walked the talk.
Whether you are an apparel industry professional, a designer launching own brand or an entrepreneur looking to take a local business to the global forefront, South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum is your fastest ticket to some world-class knowledge on the topic. The forum is scheduled to take place at SLECC, 6 December 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
‘Fashion Innovation Runway’ featuring the best of local apparel industry and a preview into Sri Lanka apparel’s brand led future
With a special showcase of the success stories of using ‘design’ as the value addition for apparel manufacturing industry, this fashion show brings together the creative talent of the design studios in Brandix, MAS Holdings, Orient Design, Orit apparel, Star Garments etc. with supply chain experts like Coats, Rainwear and Colourzone. A number of unique brands such as RedCocoon, Kiito, Prabath, Aqua Island, Nithya, Lonali, RumPunch, LICC, Aviraté and Tarja along with the international brand George will be part of this extravagant show which promises to be a fantastic display of fashion made in Sri Lanka.

Networking and speed dating at SLDF 2014 
As a marked event in the global apparel calendar, Sri Lanka Design Festival is attended by a large number of retailers, sourcing specialists and brands keen to establish links with Sri Lankan apparel and fashion businesses. SLDF’s many pre-fashion show cocktails, and fringe events provide many informal networking opportunities, making the festival a hotspot for making business matches between retailers, brands and fashion manufacturers.
For tickets and more information, call SLDF Secretariat on 0115867772/3, visit them at 29, Lauries Road Colombo 4 or log on to www.srilankadesignfestival.com.
Sri Lanka Design Festival 2014 will be held between 5th to 7th December at SLECC, Colombo with the Ministry of Economic Development, Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tourism and Sri Lanka Apparel as Key Stakeholders. Brandix Lanka Limited and MAS Holdings are the Official fashion industry patrons while other supporters include Coats Thread Lanka – Official Thread & Zip Partners, GT Nexus – Official Technology Partner, Daily FT/Daily Mirror/Sunday Times – Official Print Media, MTV/MBC – Official Electronic Media, Mount Lavinia – Official Venue Partner, Triad – Official Communications Partner and Cheryl Gooneratne Hair & Beauty Academy – Official Hair & Makeup, Sunshine Travels – Official Travel Partner and Pico – Official Exhibitor Logistics Partner.

Vietnam calls for FTA

Daily FT - 02/12/2014

• ‘Appointing Lanka’s first trade official to Vietnam’ – Rishad
• ‘Bilateral trade should not be just rice and tea’ – Kieu Thu
• YoY bilateral trade surges by 88%
• ‘Time to explore joint apparel synergies too’ – Kieu Thu

Stepping up its trade cooperation with Sri Lanka, Vietnam said that it was working towards establishing a groundbreaking FTA with Sri Lanka.

In view of this, Sri Lanka has promptly appointed its first-ever trade officer to Vietnam, the world’s fifth largest apparel exporter which is ready to partner with Sri Lanka’s own apparel industry.

“There is huge unrealised trade potential between both countries that we need to explore. Trade need not be mostly the exchange of rice and tea between both countries. Therefore, while in Colombo, I will take up the task of promoting an FTA with Sri Lanka,” said Vietnam’s new ambassador to Sri Lanka, Phan Kieu Thu on 27 November in Colombo.

Ambassador Thu was speaking to Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen during her maiden courtesy call on the minister at EDB.

Joining Minister Bathiudeen in the discussions were officials from the Department of Commerce and EDB Chairman and CEO Bandula Egodage.

“The former Vietnam Ambassador in Colombo Ton Sinh Thanh has done a good job in Colombo promoting bilateral trade right until the last minute of his departure. He was also instrumental in promoting bilateral investments,” said Minister Bathiudeen said.

“As per the export vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we are targeting $ 20 b in exports by 2020 and free trade agreements with our partners could help us in this effort. The Department of Commerce has increased its efforts to boost bilateral trade. I am pleased with the establishment of our successful first-ever Lanka-Vietnam official trade mechanism in August. This Joint Trade Subcommittee has enhanced existing bilateral trade and economic relations to new heights. I am pleased to inform Your Excellency of the appointment of the first Lankan Trade (Promotion) Officer to Vietnam by the Department of Commerce and this officer is expected to start in January 2015. Next year we are also planning to send a strong Lankan business B2B delegation to Vietnam, based on a Vietnamese invitation to do so during my August visit.”
In reply Thu said: “We are working on receiving the Lankan B2B delegation in Vietnam next year. Expansion of your exports to Vietnam will give a wider choice of Lankan goods to our consumers and an FTA is a great instrument.”

At present Vietnam ranks 40th as an export destination and 23rd among suppliers to Sri Lanka, accounting for 0.43% of total Lankan exports and 1.06% of total imports respectively. Total trade between both countries – which stood at $ 119.5 m in 2012 – increased to $ 224.4 m in 2013, registering a remarkable growth of 88%.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka near to historic trade pact

As both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka moved closer to their historic trade pact, the process took a new turn as a keen Bangladeshi private sector itself stepping in to accelerate it on 27 November, a rare development in an on-going Lankan trade negotiations-and bilateral trade between both countries has jumped by a strong 67%.

“I will meet our Commerce Minister who is very well meaning and serious, and inform him to expedite the FTA process” said Mahbubur Rahman (President, International Chamber of Commerce of Bangladesh ICCB) on Thursday (27) in Colombo. ICCB President Rahman was addressing Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka on 27 November during his courtesy call on Minister Bathiudeen at EDB, Colombo. Considered as a pioneer of Bangladeshi private sector, ICCB President Rahman, who started his business activities in 1960s, was the founder of the diversified group ETBL Holdings Ltd, and also Eastern Trading (Bangladesh), ETBL Development Construction, ETBL Securities & Exchanges Ltd., Progressive Investments (successors to the National Rubber Industries), and Century Cold Storage Ltd. He was also the leading sponsor of Bangladesh’ Eastland Insurance Co, International Publications (Publisher of the Daily Financial Express), National Bank Ltd and National Housing Finance & Investments Ltd. Also present at the session were Bandula Egodage (Chairman and CEO-EDB) and Ataur Rahman (Secretary General, ICCB).

“I am also pleased to say that many Lankan investments in Dhaka are doing very well. For example, the Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka is doing so well there that even our businesses seek its assistance always”,said ICCB President Rahman, According to the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh is the 25th export destination of Sri Lanka in 2013. Bilateral trade between both countries jumped by a strong 67% in 2013 to $ 139.23 Mn (from 2012’s $ 83.19 Mn).

Responding to ICCB President Rahman, Minister Bathiudeen said: “We welcome your intervention and this will greatly boost bilateral efforts. In fact, we too agree that it is the private sector at both sides that would finally drive trade. I am pleased to inform you that the Department of Commerce under me has already completed the Trade agreement study report on our side and both parties have now exchanged their respective reports. We are ready for the nature of Agreement that you look forward to-whether a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) or a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Whatever the form, our government led by the committed HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be positive on the requirements that you have. In fact we welcome a Free Trade Agreement if you so choose. Despite increase in trade, there is still great unrealised trade potentials and a trade agreement will be the way forward towards bigger bilateral volumes.”

On 23 September, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh successfully inked their second bilateral Joint Working Session in Colombo while also coming to a consensus on creating a prospective Trade Agreement between the historic partners, but stopped short of the exact nature of the Trade Agreement to be reached ‘for a while’. Sri Lanka’s leading exports to Bangladesh in 2013 were apparel (cotton, fabrics, Narrow woven fabrics and other articles of apparel) and enzymes. Leading imports from Bangladesh in 2013 were medicaments, apparel, electric accumulators, and potatoes-in fact, most of Sri Lankan exports to Bangladesh relate to the garment industry.