Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday, 29 April 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is making steady progress in formulating the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) for 2026–2030, a strategy aimed at steering the country toward sustained export-led growth in line with the Government’s vision of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
As part of this process, an ADB fact-finding mission under the Trade, Investment, and Industry Development Policy-Based Lending (PBL) Program (Subprogram 1) visited Sri Lanka from 27 to 30 April 2026. A key meeting took place on Monday (27) at the EDB premises, where the ADB delegation, led by Senior Public Sector Economist and Mission Leader Kanupriya Gupta, engaged with the EDB Chairman, Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe, and senior management.
Discussions reviewed the current status of the NEDP and mapped out the next steps toward effective implementation. Deliberations focused on advancing Cabinet approval and the formal launch of the plan, identifying technical assistance requirements from ADB for the next phase under Subprogram 2, and aligning on immediate actions to ensure a smooth rollout.
The engagement falls within ADB’s broader PBL framework, implemented in close coordination with the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry, to support policy reforms, strengthen institutions, enhance trade competitiveness, and diversify export markets.
Both parties also examined the proposed implementation framework for the NEDP, including the establishment of a high-level steering committee, the operationalisation of a dedicated Project Management Unit, and the introduction of a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system to track progress and outcomes.
The ongoing mission marks a key step in deepening cooperation between Sri Lanka and ADB, while reinforcing a structured and results-driven approach to executing the NEDP. Once implemented, the plan is expected to significantly boost export performance and contribute to long-term economic growth.
