The Export Development Board (EDB) which counts 37 years of service to the small and medium size entrepreneurs opened the World Exporters Development Forum (WEDF) lined on the theme, “Trade, for success: Connect, compete,change” yesterday.
President Maithripala Sirisena opened the 16th edition of the two day World Exporters Development Forum (WEDF) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo in the presence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, Internal Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe among others.
The 16th edition of the WEDF will see the presence of the distinguished foreign delegates from the International Trade Centre (ITC) including the ITC Executive Director Archana Gonzalez and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB)Chairperson and Chief Executive Indira Malwatte, EDB Director General Jeewani Siriwardena, Director Agro Export Malani Baddegamage and Ambassadors and High Commissioners representing the respective countries the big wigs of the international trade floor and other invitees due to be present to mark the epoch making event, taking place under the aegis of the Government.
We live in an increasingly globalised and competitive world and Sri Lanka, our country relatively very small in size, we need to think in terms of managing our external environment is of paramount importance foe our socio-economic development. We cannot achieve economic growth by merely meeting primarily the local demands through what we produce but to achieve growth in real terms, we need to draw our attention to exports, and our country will realize our economic goals earning foreign exchange, through foreign direct investment.
The Two Day Forum expected to be one of the biggest events ,the present government has undertaken, and which is attended by the global business leaders, policy makers would focus their attention to issues ranging from transitioning trade, environments, transparency, and traceability to business strategies and trade policies across the globe.
The World Export Development Forum is one of the biggest events the new Government has undertaken to revitalising Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness with a host of far-reaching initiatives.
The holding of the 16th edition of the World Exporters Development Forum (WEDF) in our country is a fitting tribute to those who laboured to establish the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, for if not for their effort and foresight there would not have been an institution called the EDB.
The EDB which plays the key facilitator role today in bringing to partnership both state and private sector to move effectively for the benefit of the country, gets its origin thanks to the Export Development Council Act No.40 0f 1979, promulgated by Parliament. The Bill was presented by late Lalith Athulathmudali, as Trade and Shipping Minister of the Government of President J.R. Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka had faced many challenges in the past in trying to make our economy vibrant and inclusive. The introduction of the Open Economy in Sri Lanka turned to be the pioneering country in South Asia Region and Athulathmudali played a significant role in introduction of these new changes, which included removal of trade barriers in local market and introduced an export oriented or market oriented economic policy.
Relaxation of exchange control, abolition of import control and grant of more incentives for investment etc. were the changes introduced to make the platform for open economy. This was a huge challenge to policy makers because the country produced to a limited local market at the time, but with the new export oriented economic policy the product had to be developed to cater for huge international market.
Minister Athulathmudali who realised the need of a constructive institutional framework for the development of export trade and pioneered in establishing the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and began operating from August 1,1979 under Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979.
The first significant step taken in terms of this new Act was to empower EDB with wider powers for promotion of export and development in an attempt to embolden excellent performance of its duty at the highest standard in the best interest of the nation. The specialty featuring EDB was the perceptible structure of difference between the government and other institutions.
An Export Development Council of Ministers was formed under the Chairmanship of the President comprised of the Minister in charge of related areas of exports. The objective of the Council was to advise EDB with directives for prompt execution of the decisions taken by the Export Development Council of Ministers.
His ambition of establishing an institution in 1979 on behalf of the 21st century became a reality with the support of ITC of UNCTAD.
Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, under whose purview the EDB came, appointed late Victor Santiapillai, as the first Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB).Santiapillai joined the Civil Service, after completing a degree in Economics at the University of Ceylon. He had held a number of positions connected with bilateral trade relationships and had worked with many international trade organizations for 16 years.
He was Trade Commissioner for Ceylon for four years in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. He was the Head of the International Commercial Relations Division of the Ministry of Commerce in Colombo, after which he joined the ITC.
The Presidential Export Award, (PEA) the highest award ever presented by the nation in recognition of the professional competence exhibited by the export community in boosting the national economy is also a concept of the late Lalith Athualthmudali.
Presentation of this award signifies the appreciation of the entire nation in respect of the enormous contribution extended by the exporters for development. The EDB takes the pride of having organized 19 award ceremonies up to date. Importance of presenting awards to the export community by other institutions came into light after the introduction of this PEA Awards.”
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