An Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation is in Sri Lanka to review the country’s National Export Development Plan (NEDP) for 2026–2030, the government said in a statement.
The ADB team met Export Development Board (EDB) officials to discuss Cabinet approval of the plan, progress on its implementation, and the technical assistance Sri Lanka expects from the bank for the second phase, EconomyNext reported.
The two sides also discussed at length the framework for putting the plan into practice. “The primary goal is to enhance Sri Lanka’s trade competitiveness and diversify its export markets,” the statement said.
The meeting covered the establishment of a high-level steering committee, a Project Management Unit (PMU), and the development of a robust reporting system to monitor progress. ADB has been a consistent funder of Sri Lanka’s trade-facilitation and export-diversification programmes through previous lending cycles.
The plan arrives as Sri Lanka navigates a difficult external environment. First-quarter goods and services exports of USD 4.3 billion came under pressure from Hormuz shipping disruption, weakening major-market demand and US tariff actions on Sri Lankan apparel. Diversification away from a narrow basket of garments, rubber-based products and tea has been a long-running policy goal.
No timeline was disclosed for when the plan will be tabled before Cabinet for formal approval, or when Phase 2 technical assistance from the ADB will be drawn down.
