📈 EDB Southern Province Networking Forum: Matara 2026

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) will host the Southern Province Regional Exporters’ Networking Forum on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Matara. The initiative aims to empower regional exporters by directly addressing operational hurdles and identifying new growth avenues. • Strategic Participation The forum will connect exporters from the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota, and Monaragala with top-tier policymakers. Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Hadunnetti, will preside over the event, facilitating direct dialogue between the industry and the state. • Objective & Problem Solving Heads of key government institutions and district-level Export Development Officers will attend to provide immediate solutions for exporter concerns. The EDB’s Southern Province Office has already begun pre-collecting proposals to ensure discussions focus on high-impact sectors like tea, spices, and fisheries. • Key Focus Areas Based on provisional data, the forum prioritizes: Identifying regional export barriers (logistics, regulatory, and market access). Strengthening the contribution of Southern SMEs to the national export target. Integrating provincial resources into global supply chains. • Submissions Exporters from the four districts are encouraged to submit issues via spo@edb.gov.lk or contact 041-223 1591 ahead of the Matara forum.