By Quintus Perera - Asian Tribune
Colombo, 24 May, (Asiantribune.com): 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 Prof G L Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade speaking at the press briefing held at Taj Samudra Hotel to explain the purpose and modalities of the Trade facilitation.
Kosala Wickramanayake, President, FCCISL making the welcome address 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.
Head Table . (L-R) Kumar Mallimarachchi, Vice President, FCCISL, Sujeevan Perera, Advisor (Trade), Commonwealth Secretariat, UK, Kosala Wickramanayake, President, FCCISL, Prof. G L Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade, J Savanadasa, Snr. Consultant, FCCISL, Kwek Hwai Wee, Consulting Manager, CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd, Singapore, Hansen Choo, Consultant, CrimsonLogic and Tissa Jayaweera, Senior Vice President, FCCISL,
Prof Peiris continuing said that he deeply appreciate the interest of the Commonwealth Secretariat in the decision of supporting this programme 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 the independence, Sri Lanka had one of the strongest economies and the per capita income 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.
Prof Peiris suggested that the advantageous natural resources to be identified and said that the country’s geographical location would enable it to be the regional gate way for trade rather than just a market place of 19 ½ million people.
Sujeevan Perera, Advisor (Trade) Commonwealth Secretariat speaking 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.
- Asian Tribune -
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