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The eighth Exporters' Forum organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) will be held on November 21 at 5.30 p.m. at the Auditorium of the DHPL Building. It will be chaired by Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in association with Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Industries.

Seven submissions have been made by exporters, importers, suppliers and other relevant organisations to the forum. Some issues that are submitted to the forum take time since they have to go through a number of relevant authorities for resolution.

A request was made by an exporter to prohibit export of non-ferrous metal scrap, copper, nickel, aluminum, lead and zinc with iron scrap without paying export cess of 25% on the FOB price. This issue which was placed at the Cabinet Sub Committee was approved.

An exporter of footwear requested to impose a floor price of US$ 5 per pair of footwear imported and to limit the number of pairs of shoes that can be brought into the country as personal baggage. He also requested to remove custom duties on raw materials and accessories needed by the industry. These issues have been accepted by the Government. The instructions have already been given to the Treasury to implement this before the Christmas season to avoid large quantities of shoes coming to the market.

Another important issue is a request made by an exporter to remove cess on activated carbon. This has been placed at the Cabinet Sub Committee of Economic Affairs. A favourable solution is expected.

Another request at the last forum was the withdrawal of obtaining a certificate from the Coconut Development Authority when exporting coconut leaf products.

There was also a request to introduce a new system on endorsing invoices for exporters. It was agreed to take these issues and make arrangements to issue certificates through one institute.

Another important issue that was solved at the Forum was to remove port and airport development levy from machinery imported on NFE (no foreign exchange involved) basis and to re-export after a certain period of time. It was also agreed to exempt the electronic industry as a whole from the Ports and Airport Development Levy.

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