Sri Lanka alone in region in getting GSP concessions

Sri Lanka is among just 15 countries globally and the only one amongst competing nations in the region to get the GST +, duty free access of approximately 7000 products into the European Union.

"This trade concession makes Sri Lanka unique in Asia. None of your other competing countries enjoys that status," Ambassador Julian Wilson, Head of the European Commission Office in Colombo said last week.

He was speaking at the annual exporter awards presented by the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) of Sri Lanka this week where Omega Line Ltd won the Gold Award and was crowned the ‘Most Outstanding Exporter’.

The awards were divided by categories and a representative from each company accepted the award on stage in front of a sizeable crowd. Here are the Gold Award winners for each category:

Agriculture Sector Bulk: Cornill Exports (Pvt) Ltd
Agriculture Sector Value Added: Ni-cey International (Pvt) Ltd
Tea Sector Bulk: George Steuart (Tea & Marketing) Pvt Ltd
Tea Sector Value Added: Gemi Teas Colombo (Pvt) Ltd
Industry Sector: Art Decoration International (Pvt) Ltd
Garments Sector Quota: Superfine International Garments (Pvt) Ltd
Garments Sector Non-Quota: Hidramani Mercury Apparel (Pvt) Ltd / Omega Line Limited
Service Providers to Exporters Sector: Mountain Hawk Express (Private) Ltd
Gems & Jewellery Sector: Jayaratne Gems & Lapidary
Mineral Sector: Ceyquartz MBI (Pvt) Ltd
Export of Services Sector: Colombo Engineering Enterprises
Best Woman Exporter: Daya Apparel Exports (Pvt) Limited
Best Sri Lankan Brand Exporter: Macksons Paint Industries (Pvt) Ltd

Kulatunga Rajapaksa, President of the NCE, told the gathering that this is the only organization that exclusively supports exporters in Sri Lanka and for the 14th straight year, recognizes excellence in the export community.

EU’s Wilson described Sri Lanka's relationship with Europe as being "remarkably substantial" due several factors such as trade, aid, political cooperation, history but mostly due to the goodwill of senior European politicians with regard to Sri Lanka and the peace process which should only serve to strengthen trade. "I want to build on these relationships and take it one step further."
Wilson said that trade between Sri Lanka and the European Union (EU) accounted for one fifth of the country's 2005 total trade, amounting to approximately 2.6 billion Euros. The EU now accounts for 28% of exports from Sri Lanka, coming in second to the United States. (NG)