EDB webinar on market opportunities in Germany and Europe for electronic and electrical exporters

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), with the assistance of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany and the Ministry of Foreign Relations, organised a free webinar on 15 July, on matchmaking and market entry opportunities available for Sri Lankan electronic and electrical sector exporters.

The main aim of this program was to display the capabilities, potential products, and strengths of the Sri Lankan electronics and electrical sector exporters to create business linkages through B2B meetings, enhance business relations with new contacts as well as the existing contacts, attract multinational companies, explore new trends in technology and innovations, and to explore the strategies to enter into Global Value Chains (GVCs) for Sri Lankan electronic and electrical sector companies.

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Germany Manori Unambuwe and EDB Director General Jeevani Siriwardena made the introductory remarks at the webinar and EDB Assistant Director Akila Zoysa provided an overview of the country’s electronic and electrical sector. Sri Lanka Electronic Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Manjulal Waas spoke on the future of the industry and its capabilities while Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka Chief Delegate Andreas Hergenrother made a speech on German Expert Knowledge on Business with Sri Lanka during the discussion. 

During the webinar it was highlighted that the EDB organised a Sri Lanka pavilion for the first time at Productronica – the world’s leading trade fair for Electronic Development and Production – which was held during last November in Germany. Four Sri Lankan companies participated at the trade fair and were able to generate a large number of new orders and business linkages. It was also pointed out that Europe is a quality-focused market and there is an excellent opportunity for Sri Lankan companies in the electronic and electrical sector to penetrate the market with the assistance of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany and the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka. 

The online event was attended by a large number of participants, and they shared their thoughts and suggestions. The Sri Lankan electrical and electronic industry today mainly caters for Automobiles, Telecommunication, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Automation and Medical Sector. Most of the companies are Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Electronics Manufacturing Service (EMS) producers. 

The country’s exporters in the electronics/electrical industry are all ISO-certified and committed towards protecting the environment while observing ROHS and WEEE regulations and decent labour in conformity with the ILO requirements.

The EDB is hoping to organise a series of B2B sessions for electronic and electrical sector companies with interested German and EU companies in the near future for the betterment of the industry.