Commonwealth Secretariat to assist SL trade facilitation
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The Head Table at the Media Conference on Benchmarking Sri
Lanka’s Trade Facilitation Systems and Processes. From left:
Vice President, FCCISL, Kumar Mallimarachchi, Advisor (Trade),
Commonwealth Secretariat, UK, Sujeevan Perera, President, FCCISL,
Kosala Wickramanayake, Chief Guest, Minister of Export
Development and International Trade Prof. G L Peiris, Snr.
Consultant, FCCISL, J Savanadasa, Consulting Manager,
CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd, Singapore, Kwek Hwai Wee, Consultant,
CrimsonLogic Hansen Choo and Senior Vice President, FCCISL,
Tissa Jayaweera.
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Trade facilitation is very important for the economy of Sri Lanka and
the exercise undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration
with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)
is appropriate and timely, said Minister of Export Development and
International Trade Prof G L Peiris. He was speaking at a press briefing
held at Taj Samudra Hotel to explain the purpose and modalities of trade
facilitation.
President, FCCISL Kosala Wickramanayake said that trade facilitation
is an essential component of trade promotion and such facilitation
involves many systems and processes. He said that Sri Lanka has been one
of the pioneers in introducing facilitation way back in 1980s, but the
interest on this key subject suffered and have fallen behind in the
efforts to introduce new methods and facilities that would ultimately
enable the speedier movement of export and import cargo.
Prof Peiris said that he deeply appreciated the interest of the
Commonwealth Secretariat in the decision of supporting this program in
order to stimulate the innovative thinking on systems and procedures to
take stock, identify shortcomings and recommendation.
He said that looking back to the country's history, at the time of
receiving independence, Sri Lanka had one of the strongest economies and
the per capita income was the highest in the region, way ahead of such
countries like Thailand, Korea etc., and slightly below Japan.
He said that subsequently the country underwent problems like the
ethnic strife which prevented progress.
He said that now this problem has completely been resolved and a new
page is being turned in the annals of Sri Lankan history. He said that
the time is appropriate to address the problem of rebuilding the
economy. Therefore the area of trade facilitation would be a practical
project and the country's strongest advantage is its natural resources
and this advantage should be optimally used.
Advisor (Trade) Commonwealth Secretariat Sujeevan Perera said that
the Commonwealth Secretariat is celebrating their 60th anniversary and
it is a celebration in diversity. He said it is a unique family of 53
developing and developed nations covering two billion people or 30
percent of the world population. Their mission and mandate is to foster
peace, democracy, equality and good governance and to be a catalyst for
global consensus building and a source of assistance for sustainable
development and poverty eradication.
He said that Debt Management, Economic and Legal, Enterprise and
Agriculture and Trade come under their Special Advisory Division and the
present project is dealt with by that division.
Commonwealth Secretariat has entrusted the Technical Assistance to
Benchmark Sri Lanka's Trade Facilitation Systems and Processes Project
to CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd, Singapore and Kwek Hwai Wee, Consulting Manager
of the company elaborated how the project will be implemented.
He said their company delivers world-class eGovernment solutions by
leveraging on best-practice and technologies, quality human capital and
global experiences.
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