NCE to assist Govt to achieve NET

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) President Sarath de Silva said that it is possible to achieve the national export target (NET) of US$ 20 billion by the year 2020 even before the target date.

For this purpose, the private sector should be motivated with appropriate policy initiatives and incentives with an all Island production effort in the first instance, and aggressive export market promotion.

To achieve this objective, especially the Agricultural and Fisheries sectors as well as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should be engaged on full gear in a production and market promotion drive, said De Silva.

In regard to market promotion efforts the Chamber is of the view that the visit of the President to India provides a good opportunity to improve on the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Sri Lanka by removing constraints that hinder the effective implementation of the agreement, particularly in regard to Non Tariff Barriers (NBTs) including quarantine barriers which prevents growth in trade of agricultural products.

The NCE President said that the private sector chambers have already communicated with the relevant chambers in Kerala, Andrapradesh, Pollachchi and Chennai focusing on these aspects. The members of these Chambers are keen to import products from Sri Lanka to India.

The Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai, Vadivel Krishnamoorthi and the NCE President have also initiated action for the removal of quarantine barriers in consultation with the relevant authorities in India and the Commerce Department in Sri Lanka.

With regard to the proposed finalization of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Sri Lanka, the NCE Past President Kulatunga Rajapaksa responding to the intention of the Government to seek the views and inputs of all stakeholders before signing the agreement, is of the view, that in the first instance the State authorities should be transparent by releasing copies of the draft frame work agreement as well as the relevant schedules to all Chambers and Associations.

This would enable the private sector to provide constructive inputs to make the final agreement acceptable to the exporter community in general, by establishing the benefits that would accrue to Sri Lanka.

With regard to the duty reductions on motor vehicles and other items and the measures to simplify certain taxes already announced by the Government, the Chamber commends the policy decisions taken by the Government.

Kulatunga Rajapaksa said that the NCE as a leading chamber of exporters would welcome an overall reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) which is presently charged at 12 percent to boost exports from Sri Lanka.