Sri Lanka Launches 2026–2030 National Export Development Plan
Marking a new milestone in Sri Lanka’s economy, the 2026–2030 National Export Development Plan (NEDP) was officially launched yesterday (16) in Colombo under the leadership of Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti.
The plan, formulated in line with the government’s 2025 budget proposals and policy direction, is a key national initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s export sector and achieving sustainable, export-led economic growth.
Developed under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the strategy was prepared by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through its Policy-Based Loan (PBL) programme.
The plan is the result of extensive consultations with government institutions, private sector stakeholders, and international development partners. It identifies six horizontal areas and eight priority export sectors (verticals) to promote export diversification.
Aligned with the government’s national vision “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life,” the plan aims to enhance Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and achieve an export revenue target of USD 36 billion by 2030.
It also envisions transforming Sri Lanka into a competitive, knowledge-based, and supply-chain-driven export hub serving regional and global markets.
Through this initiative, the government expects to upgrade products to international standards while ensuring long-term economic stability and growth, positioning the NEDP as a key driver of Sri Lanka’s economic transformation.
The event was attended by several ministers, including Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry Thilaka Jayasundara, Central Bank Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe, along with senior officials, exporters, private sector representatives, and international development partners including ADB Managing Director Shannon Cowlin.
