Sri Lanka yesterday launched the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026-2030, a key national initiative aimed at strengthening the country's export sector and achieving sustainable export-led economic growth.

Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi attended the launch as Chief Guest. Several Cabinet and Deputy Ministers, including Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, joined the event alongside representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), senior government officials, exporters, private sector stakeholders and development partners.

The Plan, developed under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and led by the Export Development Board (EDB), received technical assistance from the ADB through its Policy-Based Lending Programme. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the strategy on 4 May 2026 as Sri Lanka's official framework for export development and promotion.

The NEDP 2026-2030 sets an ambitious target of increasing export earnings to US$36 billion by 2030 through a coordinated approach to improving competitiveness, diversification and sustainable growth.

Its vision is to transform Sri Lanka into a competitive logistics and knowledge-intensive export hub serving regional and global markets. The strategy is built around two key pillars: Cross-Sector Enablers and Priority Sectors, which together seek to address structural constraints while accelerating growth in high-potential export industries.

The Plan was formulated through an extensive consultative process involving government institutions, private sector representatives and international development partners, creating a consensus-driven roadmap for the country's export sector.

Supported by a robust governance and monitoring framework, the Government expects the initiative to help elevate domestic products to international standards while contributing to long-term economic stability and growth.