The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is advancing efforts to formulate the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) for the period 2025–2029.
The second round of stakeholder discussions was held on 2nd June 2025 at the EDB premises, following the initial meeting in April. The new plan aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s export sector through a data-driven, diagnostic-led approach, building on insights gained from the previous National Export Strategy (NES) 2018–2022.
Key focus areas include trade diagnostics, market diversification, integration into global value chains, and alignment with broader national development priorities.
EDB Chairman and CEO, Mangala Wijesinghe, expressed gratitude for ADB’s continued partnership and reiterated Sri Lanka’s goal of reaching USD 36 billion in exports by 2030. He underscored the need to capitalize on the country’s comparative advantages to foster sustainable and inclusive export growth.
During the session, ADB outlined its proposed methodology for developing the NEDP, stressing the importance of inclusive stakeholder engagement and a clear, actionable implementation roadmap.
This initiative is part of ADB’s Policy-Based Lending (PBL) program, implemented under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, and is aligned with the government’s vision of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
The NEDP 2025–2029 is expected to serve as a strategic blueprint to guide Sri Lanka’s export-led economic transformation over the next five years.
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