Footwear & Leather Fair from 7 to 9 February at BMICH

Daily Mirror - 30/01/2014

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) together with the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Industrial Development Board and the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Products Manufacturers Association (SLFLPMA) will provide a platform for Sri Lankan footwear and leather product exporters, manufacturers and SMEs’ to showcase their talents and capabilities locally and globally by organising the 6th Footwear and leather Fair 2014 from 7 to 9 February 2014.

Footwear and Leather industry contributes a considerable share to the country’s exports earning and shown a remarkable growth during this year. In addition, footwear manufacturers cater to more than 50% of the local market requirement, minimising imports of such items.

It is said that 150 operations are necessary to produce a pair of shoes. The growth of this labour intensive industry will widen the employment opportunities for youth in the country too.
The internationally acclaimed recognition of the Sri Lanka apparel industry, highly skilled and trainable work force, and the availability and easy access to natural leather in south India are considered favourable factors for the growth of the industry.

The Footwear & Leather Fair initiated by the EDB in the year 2007 with the objective of creating and enhancing the image of the industry locally and globally. In addition to showcase the country’s entire footwear and leather products range under one roof; the exhibition provides an opportunity for up and coming designers to showcase their talents by participating at the design competition.
The growing enthusiasm of participants to participate in this competition helped to add innovative and novelty items to the Sri Lankan Footwear and Leather products basket.

This years’ fair will have more than 220 stalls exhibiting a wide range of footwear, leather products, travel goods, raw materials, machinery, components and accessories. The award ceremony of the design competition will also be held as a special event of the fair on 9 February at 4 p.m. and a fashion show organised parallel to the fair will be held on 8 February at 7 p.m. at the fair venue.

The fair provides a good opportunity for the young generation to learn and observe the progress made by this sector and to consider them to join as employees or entrepreneurs in the future. In addition, the fair allows public to purchase export quality footwear and leather products at a reasonable price too.

Apparel exports top US$ 4.3 bn in 2013

Daily News - 31/01/2014
By Diresh Jayasuriya

Apparel exports in 2013 have reached an all time record of US$ 4.3 billion compared with US$ 3.8 billion in 2012," said Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) acting Chairman Noel Priyatilleke.

Speaking at the JAFF 10th Annual General Meeting he said that nevertheless, the challenge ahead of us is not only to sustain this business but also to grow because the Government expects Sri Lankan apparel, tea and rubber to fetch a turnover of US$ 10 billion by 2016 and Sri Lankan apparel has also to be among the first ten apparel exporter countriesof the world by 2020.

The time has come for us to explore all possible avenues to reach this target and I do believe that Sri Lankan apparel can achieve it, because of the visionary leadership given by the stalwarts of our industry coupled with the business friendly environment created by our Government. Let us get together to perform this task.

"The introduction of Gazette Notification which directed that all Shipping Service Providers shall ensure that a Bill of Lading clearly indicates whether the consignment is freight collect or freight pre-paid on a request made by us was a great achievement.

"This could not be achieved for more than a decade and a half".

"Sri Lankan entities can now place orders in other low cost bases in the region, bring back to Sri Lanka, add value and export. Multi country consolidation which is offering enormous opportunities is also now possible." "We have continuously included the subject of market diversification and made representations to the Government to explore the possibilities of obtaining preferential treatment from China, India, Japan, Russia and Brazil.

The proposed FTA with China would help the industry in a great way."

"If not for the introduction of the suspended VAT scheme the complexities attributed to VAT administration system including refund mechanism and double digit rate, the apparel industry could not have been able to perform.

"I believe a transparent single digit VAT system is an absolute necessity for the economy to grow."

"JAAF believes that the completed reform agenda supported by the international market penetration activities, in particular conclusion of China Free Trade Agreement and other targeted non traditional markets, Sri Lanka will rank as the best among sourcing countries in this part of the world."

"We are confident that with all these reforms and trade facilitation measures, we should be able to reach the target of US$ 6 billion in 2020."

Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and Planning and Economic Development was the chief guest at the event. 

Cinnamon To The World

' Cinnamon To The World' event streaming live on "www.cinnamontotheworld.com/events.php" at 3.00 p.m. Sri Lankan Time

Biz delegation from Hong Kong to visit SL in April

Lanka Business Today - 25/01/2014

In a new breakthrough after a year from the first ever successful Hong Kong-Sri Lanka biz MoU in 2013, some Hong Kong based manufacturers are now looking to move factories to Sri Lanka and a high powered biz delegation from HK is now scheduled to arrive in early April.

”The first ever business development MoU between Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Export Development Board (EDB) was a tremendous success and some Hong Kong based manufacturers are looking to move factories to Sri Lanka. A delegation led by none other than the Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC Ms Margaret Fong is scheduled to arrive in early April for the next level in this process. Some HK manufacturers have already expressed interest to set up production in Sri Lanka, especially in garment and food, as well as handicraft and sunshine industries. Tentatively, there will be 20 delegates from 15 companies in the forthcoming delegation. We are also helping some Sri Lankan exporters to find HK markets and importers,” said Sunny Chau, Regional Manager, HKTDC Southeast Asia and India, on January 21 in Colombo.

Chau, on a three-day visit to Colombo, was leading a three-member delegation for preparation-cum-awareness sessions for interested Sri Lankan business on the forthcoming early April B2B sessions between Hong Kong’s HKTDC delegation and Sri Lankan businesses.

April’s delegation leader, HKTDC’s Ms Margaret Fong, has wide experience in international trade. She served as the Deputy Director-General in the Washington DC Economic & Trade Office of the Hong Kong Government.

Total bilateral trade between China and Sri Lanka in 2012 stood at US$ 2,676 million of which US$ 2,568 million consisted of imports to Sri Lanka. FDIs (Private investment inflows, equity, profit and inter-corporates excluding mega project funding and loans for them) from China to Sri Lanka in 2012 totalled US$ 185 million. Hong Kong is ‘the most globalized economy’ in terms of trade, according to Earnst & Young. HK is also the gateway to the complex Chinese marketplace.

More than 800,000 metric tons of fruits, veggies by Lanka

The Island - 24/01/2014 
By Don Asoka Wijewardena

Sri Lanka produces more than 800,000 metric tons of fresh fruit and vegetables annually while around 90 per cent of her processed food is being exported to the European Union market.

In addition, Sri Lanka is utilizing improved techniques in crop cultivation, especially under poly tunnels. Optimum input application, pest and disease control, post-harvest management and quality packaging are other features of our food production sector, Export Development Board Directoress Jeevani Siriwardena said.She was addressing joint talks between Maldives and Sri Lankan business delegations earlier this week.

Siriwardena added that Sri Lanka had received quality certificates, such as, ISO 22000,ISO 9001: 2000,ISO 14001, Halal, Kosher, SKAL, BRC, FDA and Global GAP for export products in the form of footwear and leather, sea food, ceramics, coir products, ornamental fish, fruits and vegetables, boat/ship building, plastic products, horticulture, activated carbon, printing, toys and gifts, wooden products and electrical and electronics goods.

Exports surge by 6.2% in 2013

The Island - 23/01/2014

Rishad Bathiudeen Minister of Industry and Commerce- (right) and Bandula Egodage Chairman-EDB, (left) upbeat on latest good news.

Sri Lanka’s exports, which suffered a YoY decline of 7% in 2012, returned with a bang in 2013 posting a 6.2% surge. "I and EDB thank our exporters for their commitment for this strong performance" a Ministry of Industry and Commerce press release quoted Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen as saying.

The release adds: ‘Minister Bathiudeen was acknowledging the latest provisional annual export performance numbers briefed to him by his officials on January 22 in Colombo.

‘According to the latest provisional figures by the EDB, 2013 cumulative exports earnings stood at $ 10379.94 Mn, growing by 6.2% from 2012’s annual export revenues of $ 9773.63 Mn.

‘High performing export ‘drivers’ were agriculture products, apparels, ‘other export crops’, and even industrial products, thereby contributing to the turnaround.

‘Surging along were the tea and fisheries products sectors.

‘On a YoY basis from ’12 to ‘13, agriculture products grew by 10.3% to $ 2479.94 Mn, apparels by 13.31% to $4492.20 Mn, other export crops up by 42.9% to $ 521.43 Mn, and industrial products rose by 4.91% to $ 7618.20 Mn.

‘Tea surged YoY by 9.22% to $1526.75 Mn and fisheries products rose by 19.14% to $ 244.43 Mn.

‘While rubber, unclassified products, petroleum, gems and jewellery showed a slight decline, manufacturing and coconuts showed very minute percentages of decline while largely staying stable.

Lanka coir now used by Mercedes Benz -EDB

The Island - 23/01/2014

Sri Lankan coir has grabbed the attention of a leading global automotive firm. "I am happy to say that our coir is now used by Mercedes Benz. This is the first time we learn that our coir have gone to such high levels" said a pleased Sujatha Weerakoone, Director General of EDB on January 22.

EDB Director General Weerakoone was addressing "Exporting to Korea" event, organised and held at the EDB. The session was honoured by a 16 member strong South Korean undergrad delegation led by Prof. Bell C.J. Park of Myongji University, South Korea, who made a presentation. Also in attendance were more than 100 reps from various Sri Lankan exporters.

"Korea is the 15th largest economy in the world with a high per capita exceeding $ 27900. At the moment our total trade with South Korea is around $ 380 Mn" said EDB Director General Weerakoone, and added: "Sri Lanka’s share of imports to South Korea are very low but we have great opportunities-their well developed automotives need our high quality rubber and coir. I am happy to say that our coir is now used by Mercedes Benz. This is the first time we learn that our coir have gone to such high levels. Also there are potentials for our apparels and electric and electronic parts sector in the Korean market."

In 2021, Sri Lanka exported $2.2 Mn of coir pads and $ 8.1 Mn of coir ropes. Germany ranked as the third largest buyer of Lankan coir pads. In 2012, total trade with South Korea stood at $366 Mn. Apparel was the dominant export item from Sri Lanka, taking 30% of total exports earnings from South Korea in 2012. 11% of Sri Lanka’s exports to South Korea in 2012 were coir fiber, ranking third export product to South Korea behind apparel and industrial and surgical gloves.