NCE targets $ 20b by 2020
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Sarath de Silva
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President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE),
Sarath de Silva says that it is possible to achieve the national export
target of US$ 20 billion by 2020, or earlier.
The private sector should be motivated with initiatives and
incentives with a production effort and an aggressive export market
promotion.
To achieve this objective, especially the Agricultural and Fisheries
sectors as well as Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should be engaged
in a production and market promotion drive.
In regard to market promotion efforts the visit of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to India provided a good opportunity to improve on the
existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by removing constraints that hinder
its effective implementation. Particularly in regard to Non Tariff
Barriers including quarantine barriers which prevent growth in trade of
agricultural products.
Private sector chambers have communicated with the relevant chambers
in Kerala, Andrapradesh, Pollachchi and Chennai focusing on these
aspects.
The members of these chambers are keen to import products from Sri
Lanka to India.
The Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai, Vadivel
Krishnamoorthi and the President of the NCE have also initiated action
for the removal of quarantine barriers in consultation with the relevant
authorities in India and the Department of Commerce in Sri Lanka.
In regard to the proposed finalisation of the Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Sri Lanka, Past President
of the NCE Kulatunga Rajapaksa, responding to the intention of the
government to seek the views and inputs of all stakeholders before
signing the agreement, is of the view, that in the first instance the
state authorities should be transparent by releasing copies of the draft
frame work agreement as well as the relevant schedules to all chambers
and associations.
This would enable the private sector to provide constructive inputs
to make the final agreement acceptable to the exporter community, by
establishing the benefits that would accrue to Sri Lanka. |
