Application deadline for Presidential Export Awards extended till 16 July

• Move after requests from stakeholders due to COVID-19 restrictions
• EDB Chief says 24th Presidential Export Awards combining 2019/20 and 2020/21 scheduled for October

The Export Development Board (EDB) has extended the deadline to submit applications for Presidential Export Awards 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 till 16 July considering requests made by the stakeholders due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The earlier deadline was on 30 June. An application form together with the guidelines could be obtained from the Market Development Division of the EDB or it could be downloaded from the EDB website via www.srilankabusiness.com under announcements.

The Presidential Export Awards are the highest and the most prestigious awards presented by the President of Sri Lanka to exporters in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the export sector and to economic development of the country.  

“We are planning for it to be held in October,” EDB Chairman Suresh de Mel told the Daily FT.

Last year, the EDB could not hold the Presidential Export Awards for financial year 2019/2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and therefore the combined 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 will be the 24th edition of the award scheme.

A total of 12 overall awards will be presented for the financial years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 to recognise the best exporting company in Sri Lanka. 

These include; Exporter of the Year; Globally Outreached Sri Lankan Brand of the Year; Market Diversified Exporter of the year; Best Exporter in Product Diversification; Best Value-added Exporter of the Year; Contributor to Sustainable Development in Exports, Innovative Export Product of the Year; Contributor from the Regions to the Export Supply Chain; Best Performing Exporter in Emerging Markets; Exporter to the Global Value Chain; Woman Exporter of the Year; and Emerging Exporter of the Year. 

In addition, the ‘Best Exporter Award’ for each product/service sector will be presented to the individual export companies to recognise their contribution to the export sector in Sri Lanka. The categories are Industrial Products, Agricultural and Fisheries Products, as well as Export Services. 

The Industrial Products category includes 26 sectors where it will recognise large, medium and small-scale business in each sector. The sectors comprise of; apparel, hosiery, knitted fabric, woven fabric, yarn, dry rubber products, latex rubber products, ship building, boat and pleasure craft building, gems, diamond, jewellery, ceramics and porcelain-based products, glass-based products, plastic products, light engineering products, leather products, furniture and wooden products, chemical and paint products, handloom, toys, crafts and lifestyle products, footwear, automobile components, value-added minerals, electronics and electrical products, printing and stationery and packaging. 

The Agricultural and Fisheries Products category includes 16 sectors where it will recognise Large and SME scales business in each sector. The sectors comprise of tea, processed food, beverages, organic agriculture products, fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables, processed fruits, floriculture, coconut kernel products, coconut shell products, coconut substrate products, coconut fibre-based products, seafood, aquaculture products, ornamental fish, spices and concentrates and herbal and ayurveda. 

The Export Services category include eight categories, which include, ICT, BPM/KPM, logistic services, hub operations, entrepot trade, marine and offshore engineering services, wellness services and construction services.