Ramya re-elected as National Chamber of Exporters President; AGM highlights key achievements

Newly-elected NCE President Ramya Weerakoon 

• Welcomes appointments of NCE member Prabash Subasinghe as EDB Chief and tea industry veteran and former NCE President Rohan Fernando as SLT Chief

The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), the private sector chamber which exclusively serves and represents Sri Lankan exporters, conducted the Annual General Meeting for 2020 at Hotel Galadari in Colombo on 28 January.   

Chief Guest EU Ambassador Denis Chaibi

Dept. of Commerce Director General of Commerce Nimal Karunathilake

The event was attended by member exporters of the chamber and special invitees. The Chief Guest at the event was Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka Denis Chaibi. The Guest of Honour was Director General of Commerce of the Department of Commerce Nimal Karunathilake. The election of office-bearers and other statutory obligations were followed by a business forum.   

Ramya Weerakoon, a leading and established apparel exporter, was re-elected President for the second consecutive year, in terms of the Articles of the Association of the chamber. Ravi Jayawardena and Jayantha Karunaratne were elected as the two Vice Presidents, Dilshan Rajapakse was elected as the Secretary and Nilrukshi de Silva was elected as the Treasurer.  

A 40-member council, which is the policymaking body of the chamber, was also constituted from among the top member exporters. The council consists of the sectoral heads of the various products and services sectors who represents such sectors.

A highlight this year was the election of the President and the two Vice Presidents of the chamber, who hold the key positions through a secret ballot conducted among outgoing council members, to ensure transparency and wider consensus in the election process. This approach was considered necessary since the chamber had reached a stage of growth as well as recognition among the exporter community which necessitates the selection of key office-bearers from among leading exporters through wider consensus. Previously, the President and the two Vice Presidents were selected through a process of nomination by the council and ratification by the general membership at the AGM. The President expressed her desire that this democratic and transparent process for the election of office-bearers adopted this year, will be continued in the future as well.    

The President in her address referred to the role played by the chamber in representing exporters at the various forums and committees of the state, to guide policy formulation and highlight the concerns of exporters for the development of the sector. In this context, she stated that the chamber collaborates closely with the Export Development Board in the implementation of the National Export Strategy (NES), through representation in the Steering Committee.   

Among the other key initiatives is the participation of Sri Lanka in Dubai Expo 2020 to be held in October this year, through the collaboration of the chamber as the private sector partner. In this regard, she stated that this international event of great significance would provide opportunities to expand international trade and also promote investments related to exports.   

The chamber has proposed to conduct a ‘mini expo’ at this event to enable member exporters to showcase their products and services to international buyers to foster the expansion of trade. However, the President noted the concerns of exporters regarding the recent slowdown of the process of implementation of the NES, and activities related to the Dubai Expo.   

The President stated that she was pleased to note the appointment of Prabash Subasinghe as Chairman of the EDB, being a leading member exporter of the chamber with high competence and experience in the field of exports.   

She also noted with satisfaction the appointment of Rohan Fernando as Past President and a leading member exporter as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom, which is a vital service provider to exporters.

The President also mentioned the fact that during the latter part of last year, the chamber engaged in several discussions with its members and conducted the ‘Vision 2020 Forum’ to solicit their views on various policy aspects related to exports and other issues which impact the economic development of the country.    

Following these deliberations, the chamber had identified and presented proposals covering 10 major policy areas, to the main presidential candidates at the Presidential Elections held in November last year. She added that the chamber trusts that these proposals will receive the due attention and consideration of the President and the new Government when formulating and providing policy direction for the accelerated growth of the economy through exports, which was a dire need to achieve the envisaged economic development of the country.   

The President, while not venturing to elaborate on the many services provided by the Chamber to member exporters since they are contained in the annual report, emphasised the fact that the chamber would continue to expand the range of services provided to exporters, especially by engaging in trade promotion activities, including the conduct of both inward and outward trade delegations.   

In this context, she stated that during the year, an inward trade delegation was proposed from Australia, while outward trade delegations are proposed to the UK, Vietnam and Egypt among countries.

She went on to state that the chamber had developed a Code of Ethical Business Practices related to good governance and sustainability, based on 10 principles. These have been introduced and promoted for adoption by member enterprises.   

As part of this concept, which is recognised in modern international trade as well as desired by buyers and consumers in overseas markets, successful member enterprises are awarded a ‘Certificate of Conformity’ (COC) by the Chamber as an exclusive service. These principles are also adopted by the chamber in the conduct of its own activities. Five successful companies were awarded the COC at the business forum of the AGM.  

The President added that the chamber has also taken the initiative this year to register a panel of professional consultants and advisers in specific disciplines related to exports to enable member exporters to engage them on a fee basis for activities where they required assistance.   

The chamber has entered into MOUs with registered consultants covering the terms and conditions of their consultancy assignments. This new service will be provided by the chamber to members on the same lines of the service already provided by the trade representatives of the chamber based in key overseas markets. Eight registered members of the panel of consultants were handed their letters of engagement at the business forum of the AGM.   

The President concluded her address by stating that the Chamber would work with the new Government and the relevant state authorities to actively promote international trade, especially exports, in keeping with the policy pronouncements of the Government which clearly indicate the desire to expand and diversify exports, as well as promote foreign investments through hi-tech manufacturers with appropriate technology transfers.   

The President requested member exporters of the chamber and other stakeholders to support the chamber in this endeavour by providing their valuable ideas and suggestions, and also by actively participating in the activities of the chamber.