Financial Times

EDB plans centres in Delhi, Middle East
By Lenin Amarawickrama
The brainchild of former commerce minister, the late Lalith Athulathmudali as a venture to expand the country's export market and boost foreign revenue, the Export Development Board (EDB) has come a long way with ups and downs on the way.

Marking its 25th anniversary since being set up in 1979 under an act of parliament, the board's present chairman Ratna Sivaratnam has survived two administrations and is looking to a future with value added exports as the key to development.

He is however worried about the end of the Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA). "About 50% of the garments factories may dwindle (be affected) but could be salvaged if bigger companies who enjoy non quota market can outsource some of their business to the small factories."

Sivaratnam believes this is not the time for the "survival of the fittest" but that the "fittest should protect unfits" if jobs of the poor garment workers are to be protected. "That is the only way," he emphasised in an interview.

The EDB chairman, who has worked under both the UNP and now the UPFA government, is concerned about bureaucratic delays in resolving the needs of the exporters. "When I was Chairman of the Aitken Spence I took decisions in a minute and then implemented it in seconds."

Quick decision-making in vital in an industry like garments for example where export delivery periods have been shortened to four weeks from nine weeks because of stiff competition." We have to dance to their (buyers) tune," Sivaratnam said.

He says that value added agricultural products have a good future and due to that reason the EDB developed a small export village at Galgamuwa creating about 1000 jobs and introducing new methods of food and fruit processing.

He defines this as protected agriculture and has introduced food technology transfers. "Indian methods are more cheaper and adoptable," the EDB chief said adding that he is confident that processed food and agriculture products can win a place in the world market.

One of the hopes of the EDB is branding Sri Lanka's gems and jewellery in the international markets. "We have already created Ceylon tea, Sri Lanka Cricket, and why not Sri Lanka Jewellery?"

Sivaratnam proposes value added Sri Lankan gems rather than exporting just nominally polished gems. He has suggested extensive export education for the relevant exporters.

The former Aitken Spence boss has lead the EDB initiative to open an Export Trade Centre in Chennai. "I exploited the properties of the Indo Sri Lanka FTA for the establishment of this centre and now Sri Lankan apparel, gems and jewellery, and herbal products are being sold there," he added. The EDB chief plans to establish two such centres, one in New Delhi and the other in the Middle East.

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