NCE Export Awards:

New sectors introduced this year

For the 13th time in succession, the NCE Export Awards will celebrate excellence in the field of exports.

This year Sri Lanka's premier Award for Excellence in Exports in keeping with the NCE's proactive thinking will be open to all exporters of all categories and sectors to compete, Executive Director NCE, Rasa Weerasingham, said.

Weerasingham said that the NCE is the only chamber representing the exporter fraternity and is a key player in the nation's efforts to boost export development in its path to economic stability.

This year's theme "Walking in Step" the NCE feels, is the need of the hour in keeping with its vision of "Economic Stability through Enhanced Export Earnings by 2015".

This theme while encouraging its membership to walk in step with the country and its community's needs and aspirations urges the nation's leadership at all levels and business community in particular to follow suit.

A number of new sub-sectors have been introduced in the general sector category. While a new sector to accommodate the current growth trends in the service outsourcing sector has been introduced, the NCE has also considered the growing importance of the Service Providers to the country's export competitiveness by enhancing the sub-sectors in that category.

Weerasingham emphasised that this year, awards have been focused for foreign exchange earnings from consultancy, service out-sourcing, call centres, ship repairers, employment agencies, telecommunication and share-trading. The Organising committee has also given recognition to the vital need of brand-marketing, communication, delivery speed and connectivity in the challenging globalised market environment by enhancing the service provider category with the introduction of sub sectors such as courier services, telecommunication, packaging, printing, trading and advertising.

In the general industry sector, value-addition, efficient utilisation of local resources and contribution to society have been considered by splitting sub-sectors in agriculture, tea, gems and jewellery and the garments into value-added and traditional, quota and non-quota.

While a new category for information technology has been introduced, manufactured rubber products such as tyres and personal protective products have been identified in recognition of their contribution towards road safety and augmenting the prevention and spread of contagious disease.

Resources permitting this year's awards will be enriched with a new ambiance. A National Exporters' forum is planned to take a close look at the export industry's competitiveness and performance.