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| Tuesday, 19 October 2004 |
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System approach to export development advocated by Ramani Kangaraarachchi Sri Lanka needs to adopt a 'system approach' to trade development within the systems concept as the concept of export development is outdated. It does not connote of a dynamic 'marketing orientation 'in the context of an increasingly complex global scenario. said President, National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka Kingsley Bernard. He was addressing a seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Economic Association on Export Development Strategies recently. The seminar focused on whether Sri Lanka is in the right direction in this regard. He said that many reforms are required in the domestic arena to achieve a sustainable economic growth through exports due to inadequate infrastructure, labour rigidity, slow returns in education and health and a sizable public service. The Government and the private sector need to devise strategies and create a corporate culture which can take advantage of the growing opportunities presented by the international environment. Although all successive governments in the recent past have emphasized the importance of export development to achieve the country's economic targets they have not been able to work out a strategy to develop exports especially in the context of high percentage of small and medium enterprises, Bernard said. Research and development capacity and managerial skills also need immediate attention as weak linkages between the industry, research institutes and universities have created a major lacuna in almost all the spheres of economic activities according to Bernard. There is also a strong need for the Government to define and maintain quality and standards as lapses result in the erosion of the country's image. At present meeting strict standards required in foreign markets has become difficult for many exporter enterprises particularly the SMEs partly due to lack of knowledge and inadequate production monitoring systems, he said. He proposed eight-fold objectives to focus through a successful implementation of the National Export Development Strategy as follows. To improve efficiency and cost effectiveness through minimisation of transaction cost removal of bottlenecks facing exports, to create an enabling business environment within the country and within individual firms, to integrate strategic markets through bilateral, regional and multilateral agreements and promote efficiency seeking foreign direct investment, to identify the opportunities where Sri Lanka will have a competitive edge and the promotion of such activities through direct foreign investment technology upgrade, improvement of standards and quality, capacity building through productivity improvement through streamlining labour regulations, introduction of new technology and production processes, simplification of import and export procedures, to promote export capabilities of SMEs through the export production houses, export processing company program, sub contracting, clustering and trading houses. Managing Director HVA Group Rohan Fernando and Managing Director Ceylon Foods A.S.M. Muzzamil also spoke. |
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