EDB’S national programme to establish new exporters begins today

Commencing the work of implementing a national budget proposal, arrangements are being made by the Export Development Board (EDB) to present offer letters to around 10 eligible recipients of matching grants under the Market Access Support Programme approved by the Evaluation Committee on the occasion of the 4th awareness seminar on the national programme to establish 2000 new exporters scheduled to be held today at the Blue Sky Hotel-kurunegala.

The Market Access Support Programme envisages to encourage enterprises interested in expanding the markets, modernize / upgrade products / services and production processes and increase market access to connect and compete by introducing improved value added products and services.

The programme is operating under two categories. Category 1 - Assistance will be up to a maximum of Rs.1 million for projects / activities to be completed within 6 months on reimbursement basis. Category 2 - Assistance will be over Rs. 1 million and up to a maximum of Rs. 5 million for projects/ activities to be completed within 18 months.

Under Category 2, 40 percent of the assistance will be provided at the time of signing the agreement with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the balance will be provided on reimbursement basis depending on the project activities. Beneficiary enterprises will be representing rubber and Rubber based value-added products, footwear, coconut and coconut based value-added products, machinery parts and components, food packaging, ornamental fish and jewellery manufacturing sectors.