Sri Lanka Expo 2012 Fair Signs up 370 Exhibitors. To be Held from March 28 - 31 at BMICH, Colombo

07th March 2012, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will kick off on March 28, with 370 exhibitors and a series of technical sessions and 700 foreign visitors including a 150 strong delegation from China already registered to attend, an official said.

Chairman of Sri Lanka's Export Development Board, Janaka Ratnayake said the exhibition which will showcase export products and services has attracted, trade and business associations, public and private sector representatives and other international buyers.

Trade delegations from USA (35 members), UAE (50), UK (45), Belgium (25), Singapore (35), Thailand (40), Malaysia (40), Korea (30), Pakistan (20), France (10), Russia (10) and Germany (10) will be attending.

China with 150 and India with 120 will be among the largest delegations.

Among the large buyers who have already confirmed are Walmart Global Sourcing, ASDA, Arcadia, H & M, Victoria's Secret, Bhs, M & S, Calzedonia, Lulu and Carrefour, the export agency said.

Ministerial delegations from Bangladesh, China, India, Korea, Maldives, Pakistan and the UAE would arrive.

At a trade and investment symposium will be held with the participation of Jean-Marie Paugam, deputy executive director ITC, Geneva; Sandro Venonesi, chairman Calzedonia, Italy; Mark Harris, general manager London Stock Exchange group Iran Ogilvie, global head of business services, HSBC.

The 10th meeting of the joint council of the US - Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) will be held on March 27 and the US embassy will also make a presentation on its GDP program and a food law of the Food and Drug Administration.

In addition, the Commonwealth Secretariat will hold a workshop on international investment agreement negotiations and trade and agreement will be signed between Sri Lanka's National Chamber of Commerce and the Malaka Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia.

Exporters Directory CD Launched by Sri Lanka Export Development Board

13th May 2011, www.dailynews.lk

The directory CD of the exporters by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) was recently launched at the Export Bazaar by the Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Industries and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen and EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Janaka Ratnayake were also present on this occasion.

The Directory CD of the exporters has been developed by SLT Rainbow Pages, in partnership with the EDB. This Directory CD will showcase local businesses in overseas markets. At a time when peace has dawned in the country and a new growth spurt is witnessed in the industries of the country, many exporters want to showcase their products and services in overseas markets to attract foreign buyers. This Directory CD will be the ideal platform for this interaction and will be instrumental in giving popularity to local businesses overseas.

Export Development Board Chairman and the Chief Executive Janaka Ratnayake said "The collaboration of two nationally important entities will surely uplift Sri Lanka's image and give the much needed boost to exporters".

SLT Rainbow Pages is one of the best known names in directory information dissemination. Rainbow Pages is at the cutting edge of technology and launches products that are in keeping with the latest technological trends in the world. Some of the products unveiled by Rainbow Pages include WAP for Mobile Phone Users, the www.rainbowpages.lk Web Portal, Directory CD and Rainbow Pages on IPTV. In keeping with the policy of giving customers the best and the latest, Rainbow Pages in collaboration with EDB, plans to launch a web directory and an e directory for the exporters of Sri Lanka in the near future.

According to SLT Rainbow Pages CEO Malraj Balapitiya, they are planning to develop a web directory exclusively for exporters. The web directory will provide great exposure to exporters through the national web site. When overseas visitors require information about a local business, naturally they access the country's main directory web site. During 2010, people from 155 countries have accessed the Rainbow Pages web site to search information and this shows the popularity of this web site.

Therefore SLT Rainbow Pages is an effective partner to the EDB to provide great exposure for local exporters to access overseas markets successfully.

Image: The Directory CD of the exporters issued by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) being launched at the Export Bazaar by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Industries and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Janaka Ratnayake. SLT Rainbow Pages CEO Malraj Balapitiya and SLT Rainbow Pages Sales and Marketing General Manager Ruwan Wijetunga.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Targets $20bn in Exports by 2020

• Export Bazaar Opens in Colombo, Organised by Export Development Board, Sri Lanka

• Doing Business Ranking of Sri Lanka to Improve with EDB Export Procedures

Exporters to US Asked to Claim GSP Benefits as the Programme May Get Reauthorized

13th February 2011, www.island.lk

The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL) sought to clarify a misconception that the suspension of the US GSP scheme of preferential tariff lines was only targeted at Sri Lanka.

It is expected to be reinstated soon and exporters were requested to keep making claims as they would be honoured once the programme is reauthorized.

Issuing a joint statement yesterday (11) the two chambers after consulting the US Embassy in Colombo said, "The recently suspended GSP programme provided trade preferences for 131 countries, and exporters of all these countries will not receive GSP benefits until the programme is reauthorized.

This decision applies to the entire world, and is not specific to Sri Lanka. The GSP programme has lapsed before, and each time the GSP programme was reauthorized, and it is expected that this would be the case this time as well.

Sri Lankan exporters are encouraged to continue to claim GSP benefits, because in the past, benefits were made retroactive to the expiration of the programme."

The statement encouraged exporters to pay attention to following:

1. Sri Lankan eligible export products which were hitherto benefited from US GSP scheme will also be excluded and liable to pay normal custom duties when entering into the US market as stated above.

It should also be noted that the American importers who keep proper records can claim duty free treatment for eligible products as and when the US Congress extend the duration of the US GSP Scheme.

Since Form "A" is no longer use by the US Customs, it is the responsibility of the American importer to keep the proper documents and submit them to claim benefits from the US Customs at the appropriate time.

2. We also urge Sri Lankan exporters to the USA under US GSP Scheme to request their buyers/importers to keep all import records as "If and when GSP is renewed retroactively the US custom authorities will automatically process refunds of duties deposited on program eligible entries."

3. Sri Lanka has been a beneficiary of the US GSP Scheme since its inception. Sri Lanka has been ranked as 14th Top Exporter under US GSP Scheme in 2006.

Rubber tires, Plastic sacks and Bags, Rubber Gloves, Activated Carbon weighing machine weights, Gold Jewelry, Porcelain/China household ware and Rubber floor coverings were among the major export products benefited from the US GSP Scheme.

Most textile and apparel articles, footwear, handbags and luggage flat goods, kitchen and bed linens, leather products, electronic products are not eligible to receive duty free treatment under this scheme.

4. In order to qualify the eligible products for duty free treatment, the product must have 35% of domestic value addition and "substantially transformed "the imported material and input.

5. We will closely monitor the future developments of the scheme and keep Sri Lankan exporting community informed of any developments.

6. More analytical information on trade policy issues of this nature can be accessed via the Trade Watch Series of the FCCISL on their blog, (www.blog.fccisl.lk).

Related Info :
• US GSP Trade Facility for Sri Lanka Likely to be Renewed

Sri Lanka Ornamental Fish Industry Can Reach $1bn by 2012

22nd April 2010, www.dailynews.lk

The peaceful environment in the country will fuel the industry development and growth momentum will continue with the growth in the tourist sector, Association of Live Tropical Fish Exporters of Sri Lanka, President Sathyendra Wijayapura told Daily News Business.

“It is important to provide assistance to industry stakeholder as it contributes 100 percent to the national economy. The benefit derived is widespread due to the stakeholder distributed countrywide”, he said.

The industry suffered a setback due to recent air travel cancellations that hampered ornamental fish exports. The time was right to earn higher value of foreign exchange as it was just after the Easter holidays and the tailend of the spring season.

“This was a big blow to the country as it was the time where the European market was booming and the demand was at peak. However, the industry could recover if air travel reaches normality to participate in the largest international pet exhibition - Inter Zoo to be held in Eurnbury Germany in early May.

This is an important event where all importers and wholesellers participate. Sri Lanka will conduct a pavilion with the participation of ten large-scale exporters. They expect to promote and generate more business.

Sri Lanka’s economy is progressing well and the stock market is performing steadily. There are indications that the ornamental fish industry could prosper with the banking industry also being receptive towards the business community.

There are 50,000 stakeholders including breeders, suppliers and collectors and the ornamental fish industry could thrive, as the restriction to use Northern and Eastern waters is no more there.

The marine fish that are exported is caught from the lower level of the food chain where the numbers are high. This ensures the preservation of the natural balance in the ecosystem. The fish breeds fast at this level and it helps the sustainability of the industry.

The industry has a promising future. The Association is working towards educating divers to enable them to develop diving and collecting skills not to destroy the natural habitat and to use safety measures.

This will ensure minimal loss to the industry. “We have natural conditions to breed marine fish and urge the Government to support this industry as it could earn high foreign exchange in future”, Wijayapura said.