Project Description
This Short Course provided Participants with a practical understanding of current international trade and investment issues and the opportunities and challenges presented to businesses by the globalised economy.
The course was implemented using action-learning methods including interactive presentations, case studies, workshops, roundtables, networking sessions, and institutional visits. Materials for self-paced learning included relevant videos, readings and pre-recorded presentations, introducing the technical factors through presentations, before facilitating open discussion of the issues and how they apply to the Sri Lankan context in whole class and small group sessions.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The Participants’ organisations and government agencies included;
• Department of Imports and Exports Control
• Sri Lanka Export Development Board
• Department of Commerce
• The Institute of Policy Studies Sri Lanka
• State Ministry of Industries
• Board of Investment of Sri Lanka
• State Ministry of Women and Child Development
• Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel
• The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Outcomes to Date
The participants worked in groups to complete an Award Project on completion of the course to implement their learnings from the program.
Twenty projects were conducted by the participants which covered topics including; Capturing Global Marketing Opportunities – Enabling SMEs to increase global market share, Impact of economic crisis on apparel sector and related FDI, Restarting tourism in Sri Lanka and The impact of para-tariffs on Sri Lankan imports and exports.
All projects were deemed strong demonstrated good progress of implementation.
Project Significance
The Short Course explored ways in which trade can be facilitated through policy interventions and adoption of innovation, covering the following core elements:
• Economic, political, cultural and regulatory factors that influence international business
• Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on product, promotion, distribution and pricing
• Domestic and international best practices in trade facilitation and addressing bottlenecks
• Building resilience in global value chains post-COVID-19
• Business and social impact of trade policy and practices
• Importance of adaptation in marketing programs
• Strategies for marketing products to domestic and international markets
• Value-adding through branding, labelling and product design
• Key factors when marketing products and services in a global market.
These core elements aid Sri Lanka in achieving decent work, economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure.