Marking a new milestone in Sri Lanka's economic journey, the official launch ceremony of the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030, the country's strategic export roadmap for the next five years, is scheduled to be held in Colombo on 16 June 2026.

Developed in alignment with the government's national vision of "A Prosperous Nation - A Beautiful Life," the plan's primary objective is to achieve an export revenue target of USD 36 billion by the year 2030.

The formulation of this plan was proposed through the 2025 Budget as a national priority to enhance export competitiveness and achieve sustainable, export-led economic growth. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) developed this strategic framework with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Policy-Based Lending (PBL) Programme of the Ministry of Industry & Entrepreneurship Development.

The national plan is structured around two main pillars, the first of which is the Horizontals, which provide the essential foundational support required to drive growth across all priority sectors. These encompass trade facilitation, trade finance and investment ecosystem development, trade promotion and market access, supply chain management and consolidation centre operations, as well as quality infrastructure, standards, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) compliance.

Additionally, skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship are also emphasised under this pillar.

As the second pillar, eight priority sectors referred to as Verticals have been identified, targeting enhanced export diversification and value addition. These priority sectors are Auto Components, Minerals-Based Industries, Rubber-Based Industries, Marine-Based Industries (including boat and shipbuilding), Spices and Concentrates, Digital Products and Services, Electrical and Electronic Components, and Processed Food and Beverages.

As the plan has been developed following broad regional consultations and the participation of more than 300 contributors, including representatives from the public and private sectors, civil society organisations, and international partners, it is expected to bring about a powerful transformation in Sri Lanka's export sector.