|
|
|
| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
by Don Asoka Wijewardena The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) has allocated Rs. 1,000 million under the Dahas Diriya to reward exporters of non-traditional products on their export performance and encourage them to invest in export production,said SLEDB Chairman Brian Agunawale at a media conference on the "Export oriented investment support scheme" at the Ministry of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development auditorium at the World Trade Centre on Wednesday. Agunawale said that the scheme would apply to all companies involved in the export trade and payments would be made in respect of export performance of each exporter in the product and specific services listed. He said that in regard to export services, foreign exchange earned and remitted to Sri Lanka through banks should be the mode for payment. Exporters of non-traditional products exceeding local content component of more than 35 per cent would be eligible under the scheme. He said that exporters would be required to improve their annual export earnings in US dollar terms over a base average of the past three years and added that the primary objectives of "Dahas Diriya" Export Oriented Support Scheme for value added products would be to recognise exporters' potential on their export performance, motivate them to invest in export production, product development and related services and to enhance the competitiveness of the export trade. The products excluded from the scheme will be black tea in bulk, natural rubber, coconut oil and copra, fresh coconuts, quartz, free size gemstones, diamonds, petroleum products, mineral sands, graphite, all types of scrap materials and apparel. Agunawale said that the SLEDB would also introduce consultancy or advisory services in the field of accountancy, engineering, architecture, law, socio-economic development and computer software/data processing for the benefit of exporters. SLEDB Deputy Director S.G. Wickremasooriya said that the scheme would be applicable to only exporters who had been in the business for three years before the current year i.e, 2004. If the export earnings during the year 2004 in US dollar terms exceeded the base average payment would be computed as a percentage of the incremental FOB value of exports (in Rupee terms) certified by the bank and the relevant authorities depending on the category (A and B) under which the products were classified, he said. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
