Exporters meet northern producers to discuss linkages
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Exporters and producers pose for a photograph.
The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) recently held a seminar between member exporters of the chamber and producers in the Northern Province, following its participation at the Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) last month. The NCE has been regularly participating at the JITF during the last two years to fulfill its objective of bringing economic prosperity to the people in the North by further developing business linkages between member exporters of the chamber and producers in the North.
The JITF has developed into a comprehensive business focused exhibition, and has provided a good platform for member exporters of the NCE to network and expand business linkages with producers in the North for mutual benefit, and further strengthen economic linkages, for the prosperity of the people in the North,” the chamber said in a media release. In this context the NCE has over the last few years been actively engaged in a project supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and funded by AUSAID to link member exporters of the chamber with producers of agricultural and fisheries products in the North, to enable them to supply their products to international markets.
Following participation at the JITF, the delegation of 11 member companies of the chamber participated at a seminar and workshop with producers from the North. Over 30 farmers and producers from the North attended the event, which was coordinated by the Yalpanam Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Shiham Marikar – Secretary General of the NCE briefed the participants regarding the benefits in establishing linkages between member exporters of the chamber and producers in the North.
He highlighted the results already achieved by the producers in the North and exporters in the South under the activities of the Local Empowerment for Economic Development (LEED) project supported by the ILO, mentioned above, with the intention of signing additional contacts in the near future for further business expansion. J. Jeganathan – Deputy Provincial Director of Agriculture in the Northern Province made a presentation on the current position and opportunities for producers of agricultural products in the North for export. In this context it was stated that the success of exporters, and exports from Sri Lanka depends on the success of producer farmers.