Monday July 6, 2026 1:03 pm ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board (EDB) and Germany’s Import Promotion Desk (IPD) have signed an agreement to continue their partnership to increase market access for the island nation’s export-oriented SMEs. Julia Bellinghausen, Head…
Monday July 6, 2026 1:03 pm
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board (EDB) and Germany’s Import Promotion Desk (IPD) have signed an agreement to continue their partnership to increase market access for the island nation’s export-oriented SMEs. Julia Bellinghausen, Head of IPD, Marcus Schwenke, Director International Markets, Federation of Wholesale Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), Stephanie Weber, and other representatives of IPD signed the agreement. The collaboration has has been ongoing since 2019. IPD is committed to continuing supporting Sri Lankan exporters through technical expertise, capacity building initiatives, and stronger connections with European markets, Bellinghausen was quoted as saying in an EDB statement. She “highlighted the importance of building long-term, sustainable partnerships that enable SMEs to meet international market requirements and establish lasting commercial relationships”. Sri Lanka export-oriented SMEs, particularly in the natural ingredients sector, have benefited from capacity building programmes, market intelligence, buyer linkages, and participation in international trade fairs. A key feature of the collaboration has been the empowerment of women entrepreneurs. “Through targeted support initiatives, women led enterprises have been provided with enhanced opportunities to participate in international trade and expand their presence in global markets,” the EDB said. The MoU establishes a renewed framework for cooperation in strategic areas including trade promotion services, exporter development, institutional and staff capacity building, business matchmaking, and development of Export Oriented women entrepreneurship. Under this agreement, IPD will continue to provide technical expertise, training programmes, consultancy support, and market access facilitation, while the EDB will support Export Oriented SME engagement and coordinate joint export development initiatives. (Colombo/Jul6/2026)