Sri Lankan exporters will be able to obtain the ‘Country of Origin’ certification much faster with the International Trade Center (ITC) presenting to the Ministry of Trade and Commerce a new electronic system for the same.
Sri Lanka expects to conclude the discussions with its creditors-both official and private-and reach a debt relief deal by the first review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme that received Executive Board approval early last week.
Sri Lanka is negotiating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to seek its service as transaction advisor for the sale of the government’s stakes in several state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Sri Lanka’s automobile industry is requesting the government to consider a quota system for vehicle imports for its survival and the livelihoods of over 100,000 people, who are directly or indirectly employed by it.
The Sri Lankan companies that are currently exporting and are looking to export to the European Union (EU) will have to step up their efforts in adhering to environmental protection practices, as they are being made a key requirement for trade.
The Central Bank yesterday reiterated the risks of using and investing in cryptocurrency, considering the recent public inquiries and the developments observed relating to cryptocurrencies, which are also commonly referred to as ‘crypto’.
In an effort to expand the reach of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including the women-owned small businesses, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced its support to Commercial Bank of Ceylon to launch a digital marketplace in Sri Lanka.
With the aim of ensuring a smooth continuation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme by averting possible hiccups leading to suspension of the programme, the government is contemplating on setting up an Irish-style implementation unit with special powers to implement mutually agreed targets and structural benchmarks within stipulated time lines.
The Government of Japan has provided US$ 1.6 million to UN Women in support of humanitarian assistance for women mostly affected by the socio-economic crisis in Sri Lanka. The funding is part of a new project ‘Empowering women in crisis’, running from February 2023 to December 2023, which will support at least 1,200 women, including their children who have faced sexual and gender-based violence.