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by Elmo Leonard

The annual Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) export awards will be revived, and the ceremony will be held in September, this year. Fresh applications for export performance in 2005 will be accepted by the EDB. This was made known at the 11th Export and Enterprise Development Forum, held last week. The 2004 export awards will not take place.

The meeting noted that some of the problems expressed by exporters concerned, are also faced by others in the trade.

George Stewart (Teas and Marketing) (Pvt) Ltd, brought up the issue that there is a delay in getting a refund of VAT paid. It was pointed out that before the end of December, most of the exporters had received their VAT refunds up to July 2005. Within a month, refunds of VAT for August and September will be effected, it was resolved. The exporters' forum had the participation of private sector exporters and representatives of ministries and government departments concerned with overseas marketing.

Samson Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd called upon the Department of Commerce to lobby with the government of Turkey for the removal of anti-dumping duty imposed on import of bicycle tyres and tubes from Sri Lanka into Turkey.

Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Dr R. M. K. Ratnayake, said that the matter was taken up at bilateral level with Turkey and when the Turkish minister of trade visits Sri Lanka in April this year, the matter will be taken up on a closer basis.

Haycarb Ltd had called upon the authorities concerned, not to approve additional coconut shell activated carbon manufacturing facilities as the installed capacity of the existing manufacturers, already exceeds the raw material available in the country.

Haycarb, had also called upon the government to introduce restriction or prohibitive duty on the export of coconut shell and coconut shell charcoal in raw, or semi-processed form as granulated powder or other form.

In early 2005, BOI had granted approval to set up an activated carbon manufacturing plant. BOI had agreed to discuss with the investor, the possibilities of including a new clause in their agreement, to prevent the new company from using local coconut shell charcoal. The Minister of Enterprise Development had pledged to study the matter and take it up at the next export forum.

International Dresses (Pvt) Ltd, made a request to access ESC - Economic Service Charge on invoice value of exports of garments NFE, basis instead of National FOB value stated in customs entry or VAT return.

Representatives of the Ministry of Finance said that it was a technical matter. It had to be studied in detail to see the possibility of accommodating it in the category of limited distributor under the ESC like cigarette distributors, or any other. It was assured that a coordinated effort by the ministries concerned would be undertaken, to resolve the issue "to a great extent."

Lanka Canneries Ltd, called for the implementation of a scheme to refund the VAT paid on sugar importation at the Customs for exporters who used imported sugar in the manufacture of products for export. The Brass Industrialists Association requested to be allowed to import crucibles free of duty, or other levies.

St Theresa Industries requested government authorities to arrive at a policy decision on government procurement to restrict tenders for only local made manufacturers when the same items are produced locally or to increase the domestic preference eligible to local manufacturers from 20 to 30 percent when evaluating the tender, even when the tender is called worldwide.

Tristar Enterprises requested for removal of cess on the export of metal scrap. Other metal scrap collectors, also joined in to say that the export of scrap, comprised light and heavy types of metal waste.

While some types of scrap is needed for local foundries, other types such as tin and metal roof scrap could not be recycled, here. "Our godowns have large piles of non-usable scrap," an exporter said. The matter is yet to be fully resolved.

Electroplastic Engineering Co, called upon the government to consider suggestions such as, restriction of imports to include only very essential and very high quality items, when such products are produced locally.

Job Opportunity - Jarir Marketing Co.

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