The Committee on Ways and Means of Parliament drew attention to the potential of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to export more products through the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
This was discussed during the meeting of the Committee on Ways and Means in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma.
Discussions were held on promoting the export of products of small and medium-sized businesses through agreements such as the SAFTA. The officials said that all businesses engaged in exports are directed to the Export Development Board (EDB), where awareness is provided. However, they also said that if further awareness is needed, additional steps can be taken to address this need. The Chairperson of the Committee said that awareness should be raised during the business registration process. He highlighted the need for Government officials to adopt non-traditional methods and stressed the importance of using digital technology for the purpose. The members also underscored the necessity of developing a program to encourage exports. They told the officials that raising awareness is crucial, especially to achieve the much needed foreign exchange. The Chairperson of the Committee also called upon the members to take steps to raise awareness on this at rural level.
