President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired the second meeting of the Export Development Council of Ministers (EDCM) yesterday (12) at the Presidential Secretariat, reaffirming the government’s commitment to boosting export earnings to US $36 billion by 2030.
The high-level meeting brought together key ministers, provincial governors, and top officials from investment and export authorities to assess progress made since the Council’s inaugural session and to address persistent challenges across Sri Lanka’s export landscape.
According to a statement from the President’s Media Division, the discussion focused on reviewing previous decisions, evaluating sector-specific bottlenecks, and identifying actionable proposals to strengthen the country’s export performance.
Among the key areas discussed were the development of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry, the installation of modern scanning equipment at customs to streamline export processes, and opportunities in pharmaceutical exports, poultry meat, and tea and spice sectors.
President Dissanayake also emphasised the importance of the proposed Export Hub concept and the development of the Trincomalee Port as a strategic asset to attract export-related investment.
The council also explored strategies to enhance the supply of raw materials for the country’s burgeoning electronics export sector and weighed proposals for new tariff agreements and the revision of existing tariff structures to make Sri Lanka more competitive globally.
In attendance were Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Rural Development Upali Pannilage, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof.
Also present were Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyyakontha, senior secretaries from key ministries, BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath, and EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, along with senior officials from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
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