📈 EDB Meets Export Associations to Mitigate Middle East Crisis Impact

The Export Development Board (EDB) convened a high-level briefing with key private and public stakeholders to address logistical and trade disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The goal is to establish a support framework to be presented at the upcoming Export Development Council of Ministers (EDCM). • Strategic Sectors Involved: Representatives from the tea, spices, coconut-based products, food & beverages, and fruits & vegetables sectors participated to highlight regional volatility risks. • Supply Chain Mitigation: The Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association and the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents joined the dialogue to address rising freight concerns and ensure the continuity of export operations. • Institutional Collaboration: Key government bodies, including the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, emphasized a unified approach to protect the interests of exporters. • Key Objective: To identify immediate assistance measures for exporters and minimize the impact of regional instability on Sri Lanka's trade balance and employment within these vital industries.