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| Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
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Export services record 14% annual growth by L. S. A. Wedaarachchi One of the fastest growing sectors in Sri Lanka is the export of services which has recorded 14 per cent annual growth. Identifying the importance of the export of services, the 'National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) recently launched a project to promote the export of services from Sri Lanka with more emphasis on the private sector. The International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva assists the NCE to implement this project. Three workshops were held last month in this regard in Colombo, Galle and Kandy. The first workshop targeted Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) and trade associations and the second workshop was for representative enterprises in the service sector. They helped create an awareness of the potential of services exports and to introduce various methods and strategies that are used to promote and develop service exports. The programs were conducted by Doreen Condrad, Chief of the Services section of the ITC and Diane Girard, Vice President, Global Trade Links Canada. Condrad has wide international experience in the development of services exports having worked in several countries while Girard has been a successful exporter of services for the last ten years in four continents, with hands on experience. Succeeding as a service exporter, developing export markets, relationship marketing, networking effectively and establishing credibility, working with strategic allies and innovating for export success were the main modules delivered by the resource person to SME services exporters at the program. Explaining the objectives of the project, a spokesman for the NCE said that services make up a major part of world economies including those of developing countries. "The contribution made by services to GDP ranges from 39 per cent in a country such as Nigeria to 89 per cent in economies such as Hong Kong. In Sri Lanka the contribution made by services in the GDP is around 60 per cent. "Although often unknown to policy makers, services play a vital role in all economic activity. Infrastructural services such as transportation, communications and financial services provide support for any type of business. Educational, health and recreational services influence the quality of labour available to firms. Professional services provide the expertise to increase the competitiveness of firms. Even in the production of goods the major proportion of value added (up to 60 per cent) comes from inputs of services". "The dynamic role played by services in overall development arise from three types of services. Telecommunication services, serve as the highway on which a majority of service transactions occur. Business and professional services are contracted out to management. Education and training services ensure an appropriately skilled labour force," he said. |
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