ITC appoints NCE CEO as national consultant

The International Trade Centre (ITC), which is a joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade Organisation (WTO), is fully dedicated to support the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The ITC is currently implementing a European Union (EU)-Sri Lanka trade-related assistance project, funded by the EU, which aims at increasing the competitiveness of Sri Lankan SMEs in regional and EU markets. 

This project contributes to inclusive trade-led growth in Sri Lanka, supporting the competitiveness of SMEs in strategic sectors with high potential for economic development, including spices, fresh and processed foods, information technology and business process outsourcing, as well as textiles and garments. 

As part of the trade facilitation component of this project, the ITC has designed an e-learning course referred to as the e-learning curriculum to support Sri Lankan enterprises in the spices, fresh and processed foods and the textiles and garments sectors to comply with cross border procedural and regulatory requirements in respect of export transactions in the EU and regional markets. 

The ITC having recognized the quality of services provided by the NIOE for the enhancement of exporting SMEs, has entered into a collaborative memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the NIOE, which was formally signed on July 14, marking a significant milestone for the NIOE. 
The e-curriculum, which is delivered online, is composed of six modules focusing on regulations and procedures for the export of products related to the identified above sectors. Each module consists of two lectures, one case study and one forum task, which requires approximately 12 hours of work over a six-week period by the participants.

In terms of the course objectives, by the end of the course participants will be able to: understand the rationale behind compliant requirements for exporting out of Sri Lanka, comply with local and export packaging and labelling requirements, evaluate air and sea logistics options ex Sri Lanka and understand complete export procedures for the export of spices, fresh and processed foods, textiles and garments. 

Three categories of participants will benefit from this e-learning facility. They are 1) Those who are currently employed in export enterprises, 2) Entrepreneurs and businesses proposing to export their products and 3) Students who are interested in a career-related to exports. The e-leaning course will guide them through the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding all export regulations, documentation, as well as freight and logistics requirements the exporters must comply in order to export successfully. 

Among the benefits that participants will gain is the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of export procedures without having to be physically away from their work places, since it provides a highly beneficial learning experience at their own convenience. However, the requirement is that participants should complete the course within a six-week period from the time at which they first login to commence the course. After completion of the course and the assessments, a professionally recognized certificate will be awarded by the ITC. As such students will be able to benefit when seeking employment due to the added qualification they receive after completion of the course. 
The course material related to the six modules has been developed by professionals under the supervision and guidance of an international consultant appointed by the ITC.

NCE Secretary General/CEO Shiham Marikar had been appointed as the national consultant related to this project to assist the international consultant to collect the training needs of SMEs, map out the curriculum, develop the six modules, identify key public and private stakeholders to provide technical inputs for the development of the training modules, collection of information on import/export documents, regulations and administrative procedures, as well as the identification of tutors with practical experience of import export procedures in Sri Lanka to facilitate the delivery of the e-learning facility.   

In this regard, Marikar had also undertaken a study visit to Brussels under the auspices of the ITC in September to undergo exposure and learning through interaction with the relevant organisations, related to approaches and procedures for trade facilitation.