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EDB promotes Lankan food beverages in South Korea
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in South Korea organised Sri Lanka product displays to promote the Food and Beverage sector in the Korean market, the EDB said.
It said: Lankan food products were promoted in Korea Import Good Fair (KIGF) organised by Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) at COEX, Seoul, and during the Seoul Food and Hotel Show (SFH) which was held at the Korea International Exhibition Centre (Kintex).
Both events provided opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to explore new business leads and strengthen the existing business networks.
South Korea is the fourth largest economy in Asia and the 10th largest in the world. It remains one of the fastest growing developed countries in the world. South Korea was the 28th largest export destination of Sri Lanka with an export value of US$ 71.06 million in 2020 of which US $ 24.46 million was earned from the food and beverage products including coconut and coconut-based products, tea, fish and fisheries products, spices, essential oils and oleoresins, fruits and nuts and vegetables. Sri Lanka and South Korea are member countries of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) and over 1,367 products are eligible for preferential tariff concessions when exporting to the Korean market.
Desiccated Coconut and Black Tea are major products exported from Sri Lanka under APTA concessions. There is a considerable market for premier quality products, especially in the food and beverage sector in South Korea. And also Sri Lanka Export Development Board have two MOUs with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Korea Importers Associations (KOIMA) to promote Sri Lankan export products to South Korea.
The Products of six Sri Lankan companies, namely, Lanka Canneries (Pvt) Ltd, Edinborough Products Pvt Ltd, Sri Lankan Catering Limited, International Commodity Exports Private Limited, Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Ltd, and Empire Teas (Pvt) Ltd were showcased in KIGF and SFH 2021. Sri Lankan companies received trade inquiries for their products during the exhibitions and the EDB with the support of the Sri Lanka Embassy in South Korea is facilitating virtual B2B meetings to follow-up their negotiations with the identified Korean buyers.
With the fruitful outcomes of the participation during this year, EDB is optimistic of organising Sri Lanka’s participation at the KIGF 2022 and SFH 2022 with a view to diversify the basket of the nation’s export products to South Korea.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
