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| Sunday, 24 August 2003 |
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Ranfer bags NCE Gold again by Elmo Leonard Ranfer International (Pvt) Ltd won the gold medal for the Most Outstanding Exporter for 2002 for the second successive year at the 11th National Chamber of Exporters Sri Lanka (NCE) Awards. The silver medal was taken by Trelleborg Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. The Best Woman Exporter was Sandra Wanduragala of Selyn Exporters (Private) Ltd. The Best Sri Lankan Brand Exporter award was won by Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd. The Gold Award Winners for Most Outstanding Exporter were Imperial Teas (Pvt) Ltd (Agriculture Sector - Traditional), Ranfer International (Pvt) Ltd (Agriculture - Non Traditional), Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd (Agriculture - Value Added Tea), Trelleborg Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (Industry), Lanka Felts (Pvt) Ltd (Garments), Roton Vander Freighting Ltd (Service Provider to Exporters) and A.M.A. Careen Jewellers (Gems and Jewellery). Twenty one out of the 105 classifications were withheld. Senior Vice President, NCE, Kingsley Bernard said this is the only awards scheme which recognises, rewards and applauds outstanding performances of Lankan exporters. It is also the most significant in the absence of any recognition scheme by the government for exporters, since the discontinuation of the Presidential Export Awards, conducted by the Export Development Board (EDB) in 1996. He said exporters had to face many challenges and difficulties at home and overseas during 2002, the year of evaluation for the awards. Bernard, a former EDB director, said local exporters were constrained at home, denied even the basic infrastructural facilities required for manufacturing. NCE President, Felix Yahampath said energy takes up 40 per cent of production costs and called for speedy redress, which he said was vital. The NCE had requested the Energy Ministry for reduced tariff for the export industry. Yahampath, a former EDB chairman, said the woven fabric industry had shown an average growth rate of 15 per cent over the past decade and this momentum is needed, as the Multi Fibre Arrangement would cease in 2005. Bernard said exporters were unhappy with long-term plans for electricity generation and implementation and road infrastructure and maintenance. The cost of finance was significantly higher than that of most regional competitors. The NCE expected government assistance for small and medium-scale exporters to take part in exhibitions overseas. Such assistance had been largely withdrawn, he said. Yahampath said official statistics point to a gradual "down turn" in most traditional export products, which again need urgent corrective assistance. Bernard commended the Government and the Prime Minister for promoting investment and trade opportunities in Sri Lanka during overseas visits and inviting business people to be part of the delegations, continuously monitoring and promoting free trade agreements. The NCE, which started with 50 members, has grown to 450 members and is expected to reach 500 by the end of the year. |
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