Ramal re-elected as President of NCE for 2018 at AGM

Newly Appointed Management committee of the NCE (from left): Kaushal Rajapakse (Representative from Council), Dr. Jagath Peiris (Past President), Sarada M. De Silva (Immediate Past President), Kulatunga Rajapakse (Representative from Council), Kala Amirthalingam (Hony. Asst. Secretary), Nilrukshi De Silva (Hony. Asst. Treasurer), Ramya Weerakoon (Vice President), Ramal Jasinghe (President), Ravi Jayawardena (Vice President), L.J. Wijebandara (Hony. Treasurer), Thushari Weerakoon (Hony. Secretary), Jayantha Karunarathne (Representative from Council) and Shiham Marikar (Secretary General/CEO)

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) conducted the 23rd AGM of the Chamber in the Ballroom of the Hotel Galadari on 11 January 2018. Ramal Jasinghe was re-elected as President of the NCE for 2018 for a second term in terms of the constitution of the Chamber. 

Following the election of the other office bearers at the Business Segment of the AGM the Ceremonial Segment was held, at which Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka was the Chief Guest. The Guest of Honour at this segment which was attended by member exporters of the Chamber as well as special invitees was N.C. Narayanan, Founder Chairman of S.S.A. Business Solutions Ltd., who delivered the keynote address. 

The Speaker in his address commended the NCE for the services rendered to Sri Lankan exporters to complement the efforts of the Government and State Institutions to develop exports as a priority to achieve economic development targets of the country. He made particular mention of the Annual Export Awards conducted by the Chamber to recognise and reward the achievements of Sri Lankan exporters in the international market place, and the quarterly ‘Sri Lanka Exporter Magazine’ published by the Chamber containing valuable export related information for the benefit of exporters, and to promote Sri Lankan export products and services in the international market place. 

He particularly commended the program of the NCE to link producers of agriculture related export products in the North and the East in the country with established exporters in the South since producers in these provinces faced difficulties in marketing their products, and introducing them to prospective overseas buyers. The Speaker also commended the services of the EDB to promote Sri Lankan Exports and the complementary role of the Chamber to support the services of State Institutions such as the EDB. 

The keynote address was delivered by N.C. Narayanan, Chairman of S.S.A. Business Solutions Ltd., following the entering into an MOU between the NCE and S.S.A. Business Solutions to provide professional services to Sri Lankan Exporters to develop exports. In his keynote address Narayanan analysed the achievements of the Sri Lankan export sector and the declining trend of Sri Lankan Exports in the preceding years, as well as the efforts that are needed to diversify and expand Sri Lankan exports of Products and Services. For this purpose in terms of the MoU, S.S.A. Business Solutions Ltd., will jointly conduct with the NCE specialised training programs and workshops to facilitate pragmatic leadership in export enterprises, and also to provide professional solutions to issues faced by Sri Lankan export enterprises. 

Earlier in his brief address NCE President Ramal Jasinghe, while appreciating his appointment for a second year as President, referred to the eleven point program which he presented on being elected President for the year 2017, based on the strategic plan developed by the Chamber with professional inputs from the multinational Audit Firm Ernst & Young, and the achievements of the Chamber related to this eleven point program. He particularly referred to the contributions made by the Chamber for the development of the National Trade Policy, inputs provided to facilitate negotiations of the proposed Free Trade and Economic Partnership Agreements with India, China, and Singapore, the ‘Branding of Sri Lanka’ exercise in collaboration with the relevant stake holders, submission of Export related proposals for the Annual budget of the Government, professional training courses conducted by the National Institute of Exports (NIOE), a subsidiary of the Chamber, assessment of fiscal and taxation measures in the new Inland Revenue Act and dissemination of related information to exporters, etc. 

The highlight of the agenda related to this segment of the AGM was the presentation of certificates to successful diploma and certificate level students related to the professional training programs conducted by the National Institute of Exports (NIOE) which is a subsidiary of the NCE. The certificates in respect of successful Diploma Students in International Trade Management of the NIOE were presented by the Speaker. The NIOE conducts recognised professional courses related to international trade to foster professionalism in the field of exports to develop skills of those who are engaged in the field of exports as entrepreneurs or employees in export enterprises, as well as students who aspire to enter the field of exports. 

The Secretary General of the Chamber in his introductory remarks prior to the presentation of certificates, referred to the uphill task faced by the NIOE over the years to develop as a successful organisation to conduct professional courses in International Trade Management and related subjects, and the achievements of the NIOE in training participants of courses. He particularly referred to the achievements of the NIOE in commencing the conduct of online training courses to facilitate Cross Border Trading transactions, in collaboration with the International Trade Center (ITC) in Geneva. 50 students have already registered for these online courses, and some have already successfully completed the training. 

Further the NIOE has also entered into collaborations with the Multinational Audit Firm KPMG and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) to conduct training courses on specialised Export related subjects.

Another highlight of the AGM was the presentation of the ‘EU GSP + Business Guide for Sri Lankan Exporters’, prepared within the frame work of the ‘EU Sri Lanka Trade Related Assistance Project’ with technical support of the International Trade Center in Geneva in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka. This business guide which was presented to the Speaker and other officials by Dr. Dayaratne Silva, Head of the Sri Lanka Office of the EU Sri Lanka Trade Related Assistance Project which is particularly beneficial to Sri Lankan SMEs and published in English, Sinhala and Tamil, provides Practical Business information to Sri Lankan SMEs on the EU preferential market access conditions in respect of specific product sectors which are of importance to Sri Lanka. 

The agenda of the AGM concluded with the presentation by the President of the Chamber to the Secretary General, the Operations Manual of the Chamber compiled by the Multinational Audit firm Earnst & Young as the Strategic Partner of the Chamber. At the conclusion of the AGM participants and invitees were entertained to fellowship.