Govt, USAID conduct public-private dialogue on “Integrating Into Global Trade”

The Ministry of Development Strategies together with the USAID-SAIL project hosted a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on Global Trade last week at Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo.

The event, titled, “Integrating into Global Trade – How can Sri Lanka maximise benefits and minimise risks?”, was the first in a series of district-level PPDs being held to increase the general awareness and understanding of trade, and obtain the views of wider and more representative groups of stakeholders across the country.

Over 80 participants from Ministries, government agencies, the business community, trade chambers, the private sector and other key stakeholders, too part, the Ministry said in a

news release.

The resource personnel were led by USAID-SAIL Trade Expert Dr. Sanath Jayanetti, who spoke on “Opportunities, Costs and Benefits of Tr a d e Arrangements”. He was followed by Kasun Fernando, Assistant Controller, Department of Import and Export Control, on “Import and Export Control law and expected amendments”.

Ms. Ruwanthie Ariyaratne, Deputy Director - Department of Commerc e, s p o ke on “Safeguarding interests of people – Trade Remedies (Antidumping, Countervailing and Safeguards)”, and elaborated on the new “Trade Information Portal”. Priyantha Saparamadu, Deputy Director, Department of Customs dealt with “New Initiatives at Customs” and Heshan Mat h u gamag e, Assistant Registrar, Registrar of Companies explained the progress of “EROC (e-Registration of Companies) project” and his role as the Official Receiver.

The event was graced by Guest of Honour, Brian Wittnebel, Director - Economic Growth Office - USAID; Malik Samarawickrema, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade (MODSIT), Sisira Kodikara, Secretary MODSIT and Glenn MackenzieFrazer, Chief of Party, USAIDSAIL Project.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister Samarawickrema stated, “International trade is a priority area of our Government and, as you know, our Ministry has been a catalyst for many trade reforms over the past few years. We have a New Trade Policy, which resets our economic orientation towards trade, and provides the roadmap for reforms in this area. We also have a National Export Strategy that aims at diversifying our export basket that had remained stagnant for two decades, and focusses our attention on six priority sectors and four trade support functions.”

He also said: “We have done new FTAs, like the landmark one with Singapore, and several more - with India, China and Thailand - in the pipeline. And finally, we have the new Trade Adjustment Programme that was approved last month, and the Trade and Productivity Commission that was approved just last week.”

The release said USAID launched the four-year SAIL project in October 2016 to support economic reforms and promote Foreign Direct Investment in Sri Lanka. SAIL provides policy and institutional support to improve the business enabling environment and promote investment in Sri Lanka.

Minister Samarawickrema had a special message for the private sector: “The economy has to be driven by the private sector and that too by a private sector that is willing and able to compete internationally. We are a small domestic market, and we have no option but to integrate strongly with the global economy. But of course, we want to be sure to give our industry, our private sector, the best possible chance to succeed, by providing the right policy environment, strategies, supportive programs and instruments, and timely information.”