Category: Trade
Mastercard launches Simplify Commerce to accept e-payments regardless of payment brand
Mastercard announced the launch of Simplify Commerce, a simple and secure platform that makes it easier for businesses to accept electronic payments, regardless of a payment brand, in Sri Lanka.This feature rich element of Mastercard Payment Gateway Services is now available to acquiring banks and non-banking financial institutions as well as their small-to-midsize merchant customers […]
Opinion: Understanding the Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA
By: Ganeshan Wignaraja and Amitendu Palit July 28, 2018 (LBO) – While the global trade war threatens to disrupt the momentum of global trade and the prospects of global economic growth, encouraging signs of commitment to trade are visible elsewhere. Countries across the world continue to remain committed to free trade notwithstanding anxieties over the […]
Colombo Port transshipments up by 19.8-pct in 1H; targets 7mn TEUs for 2018
July 22, 2018 (LBO) – Establishing a record in transshipment operations, the Colombo Port has witnessed the highest growth of 19.8 percent in transshipment container throughput for the first half of 2018 as against the corresponding period in 2017.During the first half of 2018, the Port of Colombo handled 2,733,906 TEUs of transshipment containers as […]
Sri Lanka launches online platform to provide all import, export information
July 20, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Department of Commerce with the help of other government agencies launched a trilingual online platform to facilitate importers and exporters in the country. Sri Lanka Trade information portal (SLTIP) which is the single stop point for all information relating to import and export in Sri Lanka can be […]
National Export Strategy: Sri Lanka targets USD28Bn in exports by 2022
Jul 20, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government unveiling the ‘National Export Strategy (2018-2022)’ in Colombo yesterday said it plans to increase the capacity of the local export sector while also improving trade performance and competitiveness. The five-year plan will help to make Sri Lanka a major regional export hub with the launch of this […]
Sri Lanka Trade Information Portal to be unveiled tomorrow
July 19, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will unveil one of the biggest initiatives in its international trade history when the Department of Commerce launches the World Bank supported Sri Lanka Trade Information Portal (SLTIP) on Friday in Colombo. World Bank supported Trade Information Portals (TIP) across the world provide information that traders need to […]
National Export Strategy to be launched this week
Jul 16, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to launch a long-awaited National Export Strategy (NES) later this week on the 19th. “The National Export Strategy (NES) is a fantastic opportunity for the private sector and the government to work together but the success of it will depend entirely on the political will of the incumbent […]
Sri Lanka – Singapore FTA: Over USD 16Bn investment projects under discussion
Jul 16, 2018 (LBO) – Projects with a total investment value of over US 16 billion dollars mainly in manufacturing for exports are the first projects to realize since the Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA was implemented on May 1, 2018, the Board of Investment (BoI) in Sri Lanka said.“Sri Lanka is gearing to reap the benefits […]
Transparency in tender procedures vital for attracting FDI inflows to Sri Lanka :EU
Jul 11, 2018 (LBO) – The 6th EU- Sri Lanka investor dialogue was held at the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade recently. Many of the earlier outstanding matters had been resolved through dialogue and the joint efforts of the Sri Lanka and EU authorities. “We have managed to resolve many of the issues that […]
Sri Lanka’s expenditure on tobacco use surpasses GSP+ export income
July 05, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lankan consumers’ annual expenditure on cigarettes and tobacco is so high it surpasses the annual export revenue from EU GSP Plus, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said. “Reports say that Sri Lankan consumers spend more than Rs 200 million per day for cigarettes,” Minister Bathiudeen said. “According to the World […]
Colombo Stock Exchange to launch new board for SME sector security listings
June 29, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission with the Colombo Stock Exchange will be launching a Small and Medium Enterprise Board for the SME sector next week. The SME Board which is to be launched for the first time in Sri Lanka will provide an opportunity for the SME sector to […]
Colombo Port shows second highest growth rate in global port rankings
May 30, 2018 (LBO) – Colombo Port has been ranked as the port that shows the second highest growth rate among container ports worldwide, Sri Lanka Ports Authority said. Ports Authority said Colombo Port recorded a 16.2 percent growth for the 1st quarter 2018 over the same quarter last year according to Alphaliner monthly 2018. […]