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18th NCE Export Awards ceremony:
Tea and biscuit firms win honours
By Sureka GALAGODA
“Branding is a must to face the challenges of competitiveness and
therefore sector-branding’ as well as ‘nation-branding’ is the way
forward”, said Chairman, Awards Committee of the National Chamber of
Exports, Dr. Uditha Liyanage at the 18th annual NCE Export Awards held
on Friday at the Hilton.
Dr. Liyanage said that although it is an expensive exercise it is a
must to face the challenge of competitiveness. He said out of all the
applicants less than 20 percent had made an attempt to brand their
products. Speaking of the world scenario he said that 40 percent of the
global wealth is in the form of brands while the value of the top 100
brands in the world is $ 1.4 trillion. It is equal to the GDP of 61
countries.
The developed world owns the brands while the third world countries
source the brands. Therefore the time is right and opportune for Sri
Lanka to be an owner of brands rather than a source of brands.
President NCE, Sarath De Silva said that 40,000 hectares of land has
been allocated for high tech agriculture in the Wellawaya and Moneragala
areas.
NCE is also planning to open branches in all the provinces including
the North and the East. This will help NCE to serve its members more
efficiently and effectively. NCE will celebrate its silver jubilee in
2011 and plans are under way to celebrate the occasion at its own
premises. He said that the NCE is planning to obtain the land on a long
lease.
He also made a request to the government to develop a method to
increase the number of working days and to give incentives for higher
productivity, which will help the country to increase export revenue.
Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen said that the
Government has identified many sectors including IT. The Minister said
that the Government plans to hold a series of seminars to educate the
exporters on topics such as value addition branding, quality as these
aspects are key to emerge as a leading exporter. A total of 111 awards
and certificates were given in the sectors of agriculture bulk,
agriculture value added, tea bulk, tea value added, industry, garments,
precious stones and jewellery, minerals, export business and
professional services and suppliers and service providers to exporters.
There were special gold awards for the most innovative exporter, most
value added exporter, best woman exporter as well as the best Sri Lankan
brand exporter.
The Most Outstanding Exporter was Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd.,
while the Runner up was Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. The “Daily News” was the
print media sponsor.
The organisers announced that the 19th NCE Export awards will be held
on September 16, 2011. |
