The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) which is the only private sector Chamber that exclusively serves Sri Lankan Exporters, has launched the Application for the 28th Annual Export Awards, to be conducted at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on November 21, 2020. The Annual Export Awards of the Chamber which has been conducted for 27 consecutive years since its inception serves to recognize and reward the achievements of Sri Lankan Exporters in the International Market Place.
The event has hither to been attended by over 700 participants, comprising the cream of the Business Community, especially Exporters; High State Officials, Diplomats, and the Political Leadership.
Hither to there has been a high demand for attendance at this event. It is expected to be the same this year as well, judging from the substantial interest shown by prospective applicants. However due to the prevailing restrictions arising out of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Chamber might be constrained to limit the number of participants at the event, this year unless conditions return to normal by November.
This prestigious event has been conducted each year, under a special theme related to developments in International Trade. The theme this year will be “Resilient Exporters”. It is the most appropriate theme in the present context, to depict to the world at large, the resilience of Sri Lankan Exporters in their ability to overcome challenges which they have faced from time to time, over the years.
The event this year will be of special significance to Sri Lankan Exporters of Products and Services, to showcase to the Business Counterparts in Overseas Markets their success stories, and achievements, as worthy Business Partners, in the light of the severely affected International Trade environment related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Each year the Chamber effects improvements, and refinements, to the structure of the Awards Scheme to accommodate current needs of International Trade, as well as to accommodate the feedbacks received from participating exporters.
Accordingly, this year a new product sector for “Organic Products” has been introduced, in view of the increasing recognition in International Markets of Food Products of Organic Origin, related to the health concerns of Consumers.
In regard to Special Awards conferred in addition to the separate Sectoral awards emphasis has been placed on three additional awards. Accordingly, the special awards will be presented for Most Value Adding Exporters of Products and Services, Best Sri Lanka registered Brand Exporter, Most Innovative Exporter, Best Performer related to Research and Development activities Best Performer in Emerging Markets and The best SME Exporter.
Additionally, the criteria for the Special Award for the “Best Woman Exporter” have been revised to specifically recognize Women Ownership and Leadership in export ventures, in order to encourage more women to engage in Business activities for Economic Development.
Further a special award has been introduced to the main structure to recognize enterprises that have engaged the skills of Disabled Persons in their export activities. Also, Special Awards will be conferred to the highest Net Foreign Exchange Earners in each of the Products and Services Sectors, above a set bench mark in respect of the Value of Exports.Applicants are evaluated based on a two stage process.
The Chamber encourages new applicants, especially those entrepreneurs in the SME category to enter the fray to showcase their abilities, with a view to developing their enterprises to face the competition for their own benefit, as well as worthy contributors in the economic revival of the country, post COVID-19.
Applications close on the September 25, 2020. Application form and connected documents could be downloaded from the NCE website, www. nce.lk.
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