e-directory for exporters launched
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
The country aims at an eight percent export growth and adding
e-services to the export community will facilitate to broadbase exports
with better global reach.
Exports continue its upward trend with 2010 recording 17 percent
growth while 40 percent growth was recorded for 2011 first half. The
positive trend could be further sustained by providing services of this
nature, Export Development Board Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said at the
launch of e-directory of exporters 2011 held in Colombo last week.
|
The Sri Lanka e-Directory of Exporters and Web Portal was
launched recently for the first time as an innovative
exporters directory, a collaborative initiative by Sri Lanka
Export Development Board and Sri Lanka Telecom Rainbow
Pages.
The EDB and SLT Yellow Pages officials at the launching
ceremony. Picture by Mahinda Witanachchi |
“The Asian region will drive the global economy and focus on regional
trade will be the way forward. It is important to go for value addition
to reach export targets where high value could be generated. Therefore,
facilities to improve accessibility and trade relationships will be a
tremendous boost to exporters,” he said.
“The country should be projected and promoted and we will take many
initiatives to support local exporters. There will be added features to
further enhance the quality of information in the e-directory where the
uploading is free for exporters,” Ratnayake said. “The corporate sector
initiative taken to help local exporters will have far reaching benefits
as they are the prime contributors of revenue generation”.
“The wide reach to the global market will enhance trade opportunities
while building closer relationships,” Sri Lanka Telecom Rainbow Pages
CEO Malraj Balapitiya said.
“This launch goes beyond the first directory published in 1936 where
expanded range of services is provided by the SLT to its customers. The
e-directory launched will facilitate information need with easy access,”
he said. The launch also marks the three fold service to the exporters
and intended buyers in the form of e-web, e-directory and CD for
different requirements.
These three versions were possible due to the collaboration between
the Export Development Board and the SLT Yellow Pages.
This IT based directory will expose local businesses to global
markets.
This initiative will help Sri Lanka be the Asian business hub and
with e-commerce and better interaction the economy could move forward.
Nearly 155 countries have access to the e-directory in an average of 60
countries per week.
It will be a prime gateway to capture foreign markets and ideal
platform to build business contacts, Balapitiya said.
[email protected]
|
