📈 Boosting Export Earnings via Geographical Indications (GI)

Sri Lanka is urged to leverage Geographical Indications (GI) to transition from raw commodity exports to high-value, origin-branded products, securing premium global prices. • Agricultural Sector Performance: - Accounts for 20-24% of total export earnings. - Tea remains dominant, contributing 51% of agricultural exports and 10.9% of national exports. - Sri Lanka provides 90% of global demand for True Cinnamon. - Strong comparative advantage (RCA > 1) in tea, cinnamon, and spices. • Key Export Markets: - Tea: Middle East (43%), CIS (22%), China (4%), and USA (3%). - Spices: High penetration in Mexico and Peru; moderate in Europe; growing potential in China. • Strategic Opportunities: - Global examples (e.g., Cambodian pepper) show GI can boost exports by over 250%. - GIs protect against counterfeits for products like Malwana Rambutan, King Coconut, and Cashew. • Current Bottlenecks: - Lack of a dedicated GI division within NIPO and a national GI logo. - Absence of a public online GI registry and weak IP enforcement. - Low awareness and inconsistent quality practices among smallholders. • The Way Forward: Establishing a dedicated GI framework and national branding is essential to capture premium "middle-class" markets and build a resilient, value-driven export economy.