The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka conducted its 28th Annual Export Awards, the most looked forward to business event of the Sri Lankan Business Calendar, celebrating the best performance of country’s Exporters in the International Market. The ceremony was held on 25th February 2021 at the Shangri La Ball Room, Hotel Shangri-La, Colombo amidst a gathering of special invitees and award winners. Rohan Fernando, Chairman, SLT Mobitel graced the event as the Guest of Honor, who is also a longstanding member, Past President, and a Patron of the Chamber.
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Special note from the S-G / CEO of the NCE
This enables their sustenance and expansion of the exports of the country to earn the much needed foreign exchange, to develop the economy, and also to retain the skilled workforce. |
This flagship event has been organized by NCE amidst copious challenges during this calamitous situation and yet was able to maintain the undisputed glitter and glamour and the high standards synonymous with this prestigious event. The Chamber had to postpone the event several times to ensure the health and safety of fellow citizens of the country. The number of participants had to be curtailed in adhering to Health and Safety regulations imposed by the Health Authorities of Sri Lanka, hence this event has been organized as a hybrid event facilitating the non-participants to witness the event through online platforms. It was ensured that all health and safety protocols were in place during the event. NCE Export Awards Ceremony generally attracts around 750 participants approx. under normal circumstances.
“Resilient Exporters” has been the chosen theme for this awards ceremony which has a special significance related to the prevailing context and the resultant impact on international trade due to Covid-19. The theme serves to showcase the Resilience demonstrated by Sri Lankan Exporters in overcoming recent challenges posed by the COVID–19 pandemic and the Easter Sunday attack during 2019. It is also praiseworthy to mention the remarkable strength and determination with which the businesses have been navigated and sustained through a 30-year Civil War ended during 2009 and a devastating Tsunami which left long-lasting and bruising affects in the lives of those who were directly affected.
Jayantha Karunarathne, Vice President and Chairman – Events Sub Committee of NCE, welcoming the participants highlighted the need for motivation and encouragement by Sri Lankan Exporters to continue amidst all challenges. In this regard, he stated that NCE by recognizing the best performers in exports have immensely contributed towards creating a positive mindset and uplifting spirits of fellow exporters of this nation. In ensuring the highest professional standards in the evaluation process of applications, the Chamber has implemented improvements through close monitoring and analyzing the current needs of the Global Market. He further stated that the technical evaluation of applications and selection of award winners have been carried out by an efficient and a capable Technical Committee and a Panel of Judges comprising independent specialists from varied professional backgrounds.
Addressing the audience, President of the Chamber, Ravi Jayawardane expresses his views on National Unity and the need to be united as one country, irrespective of religious or ethnic backgrounds to ensure national security. To be an affluent nation, longsighted policies to be introduced and implemented under a pragmatic leadership which is acceptable to the majority and beneficial to the country. He emphasized on many matters of national importance that has a direct impact on exports and requested the Government of Sri Lanka and its leadership to formulate robust policies and programs that will bridge different social groups in the country ensuring national unity and security for creating a conducive environment for businesses and exports to flourish.
NCE is the cradle for budding exporters to shape themselves into entrepreneurs, as envisioned by the founding fathers of the Chamber led by late Patrick Amarasinghe, a fearless proponent of market economy. During the formative years, the Chamber was held in high esteem and had always been consulted for policymaking by the Treasury and the Export Development Board in matters of exports. It was the deeply embedded belief that for a country like ours, exports were necessary for priming the economy and NCE was responsible for driving this point home.
SLT Mobitel Chairman, Rohan Fernando made these observations delivering his address as the Guest of Honor of the ceremony. He further added that Sri Lankan exporters have proven their true spirits by adjusting themselves to the challenges and finding alternatives to continue businesses. They are resilient in working effectively from home and improving efficiencies, diversifying the existing businesses and finding new export avenues to meet emerging demands under new normal, and most importantly moving quickly in the digital highway VR technology. He also mentioned that the exporters are living proof of resilience as they have found ways and means to stay in business and succeeded in doing so with little or no support from outsiders.
The evaluation and judging process of the applications under the awards scheme has been facilitated by an eminent panel of judges and a supportive technical committee representing various professional organizations. Dr Jagath Peiris, a past president and a Patron of NCE and also an award winner with years of professional experience headed the Panel of Judges whilst the Technical The committee was headed by Samantha Kumarasena, Chief Executive Officer of National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka. The Technical Committee comprises a team of experts representing the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Institute of Nano Technology, Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, Sri Lanka Standards Institution, IndExpo Certification Ltd, The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and Control Union –Sri Lanka.
The structure of the event reflects the current trends in International Trade extending opportunities to exporters of different product/service sectors to showcase their success in exports.
These sectors have been further refined through inclusion of specific sub-sectors under the main products and services based on the feedback received from exporters as well as by taking into consideration the developments in Global Arena.
The Global Audit Firm, Ernest & Young facilitated by playing a vital role in the whole process of evaluation of applications by ensuring the full transparency and integrity in selecting award winners. E&Y which provides Assurance, Advisory, Tax and other Professional Consultancy Services covering many commercial aspects to the Sri Lankan Corporate Sector came on board in 2017 through a Collaborative Agreement to assist the Chamber with professional inputs for the judging process of the Annual Export Awards. This has enabled the Chamber in benchmarking the Export Awards with a high profile and credibility amongst the business community in Sri Lanka, especially Sri Lankan exporters.
Special Awards
During the event, special awards have been conferred in addition to the overall sectoral awards.
Best Value-Added Exporter
Which recognizes the highest Value Addition achieved by Exporters in respect of Products and Services since it is an aspect which demonstrates higher Foreign Exchange Earnings for the Country.
Best Brand Exporter
This Award is conferred in respect of the Best Sri Lankan Owned Export Brand, since Brands which are recognized in overseas markets will have a distinct advantage over competitors.
Best Performer in Emerging Markets
This Award recognizes Exporters who have achieved excellence in new and emerging markets, to encourage the Diversification and Expansion of Exports.
The Applicable Emerging Markets are determined by the Chamber in consultation with the Export Development Board and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Best Innovative Exporter
This award recognizes a very critical aspect related to Exports which is Innovation and Differentiation of Sri Lankan Products and Services related to competing Products and Services from other Suppliers to enable expansion of exports.
Best Performer in Research & Development (R&D) Activities
This special award is conferred to achievers related to Research and Development Activities that has yielded beneficial results enabling the Innovation and Differentiation of Products, as well as the introduction of new High-Tech products to International Markets
Best Woman Exporter
This Award recognizes the achievements of Woman in the field of Exports, who is the owner of an Export Enterprise, and who is instrumental in the success of the Enterprise. This special award serves to encourage increased participation of women in leadership positions of Export Enterprises.
Most Outstanding SME Exporter
This Award gives special recognition to achievers related to Small and Medium Export Oriented Enterprises, to encourage them, since they are a worthy category who make an enormous contribution to the Economic Development of Sri Lanka.
Best Incorporator of Skills of Differently Abled Persons
This Award recognizes Enterprises that facilitate contributions made by ‘Differently abled Persons’ through the utilization of their Special skills, either by employing them directly, or by utilizing the services of such persons in society. The Award also recognizes infrastructure facilities as well as other services provided to such persons by Export Oriented Enterprises.
Special Awards for Highest Net Foreign Exchange Earners
The Chamber confers special awards to the highest net foreign exchange-earners in respect of all Products and Services sectors.
These awards are conferred to export enterprises in the extra-large category with the highest next foreign exchange earnings over and above a benchmark that will be determined by the Panel of Judges.
Deshabandu Patrick Amarasinghe - Challenge Trophy
The Chamber confers a Special Challenge Trophy to the Best Performer among SMEs. It is named the Deshabandu Patrick Amarasinghe Challenge Trophy in memory of the Founder President of the Chamber who was an ardent promoter of the cause of SMEs.
The selection of the Best SME Exporter, the Chamber has also taken into account SMEs who have effectively contributed to ‘Export Value Chains’ in keeping with modern trends in International Trade.
Most Outstanding Exporter and the Runner- up of The Year
The most ‘Most Outstanding Exporter’ which needless to say is the top Overall Export Award is conferred on the Exporter who has achieved excellence in not only in the Volume & Value of the particular Export Product/s or Services, but has also excelled in other vital aspects related to exports such as Value addition, Branding, Innovation, and Differentiation of the Products & Services, Diversification related to Products & Markets, Environmental & Sustainability aspects of the enterprise as well as the overall Management of the Enterprise including the vital areas of Financial Management.
The Chamber also provide a special logo “Award Winners Logo”, to respective award winners in all 03 categories (Gold, Silver, Bronze) which the winning organizations are entitled to incorporate in all their promotional materials for 03 years highlighting their win at the NCE Export Awards.
The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka is a private sector Chamber representing Sri Lankan Exporters for the last 35 years.
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