US Embassy Colombo Export Control and Border Security Program facilitates delegation to Malaysia

From Left, Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council Chairman Sean Van Dort, US Embassy Colombo (EXBS) Advisor Sarah Welsh, Import and Export Control Department Controller Upulmalee Prematileka, Ministry of Defence Add Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Indika Wijegunawardena, US Embassy Program Specialist Ashanthi Fernando, Shippers’ Academy International Founder and former NES Logistics Committee Chairman Rohan Masakorala, Department of Commerce Director Nalinda Wijerathna 

The US Embassy in Colombo through its Export Control and Border Security program (EXBS), recently facilitated a second delegation to the Strategic Trade Summit in Malaysia, hosted by the Malaysian Government with the support extended by the State Department of US. 

The five-day summit was a follow up summit from Singapore which was held in August 2023, to give further understanding of the regulatory framework that is being adapted by the East Asian Economies to attract more investments and expand exports through implementation of greater transparency in trade related to ports/customs, transit and transhipment cargo. The summit highlighted the importance of having the correct monitoring rules for cargo that is shipped via ports across the world which helps the overall supply chain security and to minimise the risks of strategically important items going into the hands of none state actors and third parties. The Sri Lanka delegation was represented by the private sector and officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defence and Department of Commerce. The conference had over 500 participants from around 25 countries and had multiple sessions including exclusive sessions for Government representatives and women in strategic trade. EXBS Advisor Sarah Welsh and US Embassy Colombo Program Specialist Ashanti Fernando accompanied the Sri Lanka delegation. The US Government has continued to bring in structural support to the Sri Lankan Government and the trading environment to improve its trade and trade related services over the years. US remain the largest export destination for Sri Lankan products and has always emphasised that correct legal structures would help Sri Lanka to maintain its strategic importance and to attract more investments for the export and logistics industry.