NCE Export Awards next month

by Gayan KANCHANA

The Annual Export Awards conducted by the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) will be held in September. This was said at a press conference held in Colombo last week.

The National Chamber of Export (NCE) caters exclusively to Sri Lankan exporters, and has been conducting this event since 1993 to recognise and reward export excellence of Sri Lankan Exporters who make an indispensable and vital contribution to sustain and expand the economy. The event is one of the signal contributions made by the Chamber to the export development effort of Sri Lanka.

Award winners are selected from each of the three following sectors:-

* Export of products

* Export of business and professional services

* Suppliers and service providers to exporters

Enterprises which are selected for awards are categorised into small, medium, large and extra large to ensure a level playing field for all by assessing and comparing the achievements of enterprises of a similar size. As such, the scheme specially recognises the achievements of small enterprises that will be otherwise required to compete with large enterprises for awards.

Speaking at the event Chamber of Exporters President Sarath de Silva said, "Sri Lanka is considered as the most promising country in Asia for investment, trade and development.

So much so, it is to be the wonder of Asia in the next few years.

We as the prime Chamber in this country have gathered the total exporters representing all facets and all industries under one banner, a pioneering 450 companies that bring in a major portion of the country's export earnings of US$ 7.9 billion.

We have been entrusted with the responsibility of bringing in a minimum of US$ 20 billion by 2020," he said.

To achieve this, the total membership in all nine provinces, specially the newly liberated north and east of Sri Lanka has to be motivated, driven, appreciated and guided.