Mr Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), led Sri Lanka’s participation at two high-level international forums held in Johannesburg, South Africa: the Trade Promotion Organisations (TPO) Leadership Dialogue and the inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting. The events, held from 22nd to 24th July 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, brought together policymakers, trade leaders, and global stakeholders to shape the future of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide.

Organised by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development of the Government of South Africa, both forums served as vital platforms to discuss innovative policies and reforms aimed at empowering SMEs through enhanced access to finance, digitalisation, and sustainability.

Sri Lanka’s participation reflected the country’s strategic focus on revitalising the SME sector and aligning it with national priorities for inclusive and export-oriented growth. Mr Wijesinghe actively contributed to the TPO Leadership Dialogue on 22nd July, which explored actionable strategies to deepen engagement between trade promotion organisations and SME ministries. The dialogue also addressed strengthening the global voice of SMEs in policymaking and showcased best practices that enable trade as a catalyst for development.

On 23rd and 24th July, Mr Wijesinghe represented Sri Lanka at the Global SME Ministerial Meeting, a first-of-its-kind gathering of ministers and ecosystem leaders committed to building resilient SME frameworks. Discussions centred around supporting small businesses at the grassroots level, enhancing international competitiveness, and promoting inclusive economic recovery.

A major highlight was the endorsement of a forward-looking Call to Action, with three strategic priorities:
• Access to Finance: Broadening credit channels and financial services for SMEs;
• Digital Transformation: Leveraging technology to enhance productivity and market reach;
• Green Competitiveness: Promoting environmentally responsible business models in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These themes are closely aligned with Sri Lanka’s own development agenda, including the Vision 2030 policy roadmap, which advocates regulatory simplification, innovation-driven growth, and improved market access for SMEs.

The ITC noted that SMEs comprise approximately 90% of businesses and contribute over 50% of jobs in many economies, underlining their critical role in national development and post-crisis recovery.

The Call to Action also proposed the convening of a biennial Global SME Ministerial Meeting to maintain momentum, track reform progress, and ensure that SME-centred policy discussions yield measurable impact.

Sri Lanka’s engagement in these landmark forums demonstrates its proactive stance in driving SME sector reforms, fostering cross-border partnerships, and enhancing the role of trade in achieving sustainable, inclusive economic progress. The insights and collaborations forged through these platforms will be instrumental in supporting Sri Lankan SMEs to scale globally and contribute meaningfully to national prosperity.