National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka to highlight unique approaches at AGM

The NCE will conduct its 22nd AGM on 17 January 2017 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Galadari Colombo.The official business of the AGM will comprise election of office bearers for the year 2017, members of the council, which is the policy making body, and the election of sectoral heads in the council to lead the various products and services sectors of member exporters of the Chamber, by representing issues related to their sectors.

The Chief Guest at the event will be Ambassador of the EU delegation to Sri Lanka Tung -Lai Margue. His participation and address at the event will be significant, since the European Union is the biggest trading partner of Sri Lanka, the future related to restoration of fisheries exports from Sri Lanka to the EU, and the benefits from the expected restoration of GSP plus concessions by the middle of this year which will be a tremendous boost to Sri Lankan exports. He is also expected  to provide some insights on issues and challenges arising out of ‘Brexit’.

The Guest of Honor will be Dr. Nishan De Mal, Executive Director, and Head of Research of the well known research organisation ‘Verite Research’, which is engaged in valuable research work on international trade working with relevant stakeholders including the NCE providing insights to contemporary challenges faced by Sri Lankan exporters. He will deliver the keynote address related to such challenges, and possible approaches to overcome them.

During the past year, the Chamber has been actively involved in export related issues of Sri Lankan exporters, working closely with the relevant Ministries and state organisations for the benefit of the exporter community. The Chamber has assessed the challenges that will be  faced by Sri Lankan exporters to compete in international markets facing volatile economic conditions and political upheavels. However the Chamber is of the view that there are many opportunities that will become available to Sri Lankan exporters to exploit.

In the above context the Chamber will present at the event its new vision, mission, policies, objectives and strategic plan which has been designed to fulfill the aspirations of the exporter community to face the challenges.

Another highlight of the event will be the launch of the restructured export awards application for the Annual Export Awards Ceremony of the Chamber which will be held on 29 September 2017 at the Hilton Colombo. This event which recognises and rewards excellence of Sri Lankan exporters in the international market place, and which is the most looked forward to business event in Sri Lanka, in view of its high standard of professionalism, is of special significance this year, since it will be the 25th anniversary of the event, having been conducted annually without a break for the last 24 years. One of the unique features this year in addition to the presentation of several special awards, to other stakeholders in the field of exports, including service providers to exporters, will be the outreach of the Chamber to Provincial Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to recognise the contributions and the achievements of provincial enterprises to the Sri Lankan economy through exports, especially those in the SME category, to draw them into the main stream of exports to widen the basket of export products.