EDB said this official trade portal could in time become the switchboard for all trades done with Sri Lanka.

It was ceremonially unveiled by the Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Prof. G.L. Peiris, last night. EDB Chairman R. Sivaratnam, top exporters and business leaders were present.

The objective of the portal is to enable large and small enterprises to vie for international exposure and find new markets and buyers in a very cost effective manner. They are further assisted by the credibility accruing from State patronage. EDB was of the view that even the largest enterprises in the Country could hardly afford the costs of international marketing and this Trade Portal would prove useful to over 95% of Sri Lankan enterprises seeking overseas markets.

E.M. Donald originally an aquarium fish exporter, told the launch how he had got a breakthrough in sea food exports by having his details on the EDB's web portal. Today he is shipping export orders worth US $4,500 weekly to the US, Japan and Netherlands.

With an estimated world population of 500mn. accessing the Internet the business potential of this type of venture could be quite significant. EDB plans to promote the Portal extensively using online and offline advertising, public relations and through leveraging Sri Lankan missions overseas. The portal has been launched with all the requisite country and sector information. Popular Sri Lankan products and services have been grouped into 18 sectors from Apparel to Wood and Wooden Products. Several enterprises have already signed up and carry their basic contact information. Signing up of new enterprises and expanding the breath and depth of information carried by each enterprise will be an ongoing exercise. With time EDB hopes that every enterprise will be profiled in the portal. Enterprises have the freedom to use the Portal to whatever extent they feel fitting. From using it as a simple channel for generating enquiries or traffic to their own web sites through to the actual selling and collecting of payments.

With a view to promoting the use of ICT in international trade the EDB is offering this facility to the business community at very special introductory price. Enterprises can set them selves up for on-line trading for as little as Rs. 15,000/-. All the requisite security software and management tools of a sophisticated online trading portal have been built in for this purpose. The EDB has played a lead role in leveraging the Internet for delivering a range of e-based services to the business community since 1999 when it launched the Cyber Trader. www.srilankabusiness.com represents a major leap from this pioneering effort. The development of this Trade Portal will be on-going and will constitute a major part of EDB's focus for the future. This portal will also provide the gateway for the launch of many other e-services to Sri Lankan enterprises. The EDB also expects this initiative to open up avenues for new types of businesses paving the way for improved employment opportunities. This could be very significant in the light of the Government's target of creating two million new jobs over the next few years.

In keeping with the Government's vision of an e-Sri Lanka where "the dividends of ICT are taken to every village, to every citizen and to every business" the EDB has even provided for the rural entrepreneur through the establishment of regional e-commerce centres.

SMEs in rural areas that are unable to access the Internet due to the lack of a personal computer or a telephone line will now be able to do so through these regional centres. Five centres are presently in operation in Galle, Hambantota, Matara, Kandy and Kurunegala while three more - in Kalutara, Matale and Ratnapura are in the pipeline.

EDB said that Sri Lanka is on the threshold of a new wave of social and economic development with the Government targeting a sustained economic growth of 8 to 10 percent over the next few years. SMEs who contribute significantly to the economic development of the Country will have a major role to play in this endeavour and www.srilankabusiness.com will play an important role in assisting them to find export markets.