World Export Development Forump-Trade for Success: Connect, Complete, Change
I wish to inform you that the 16th edition of World Export Development Forum (WEDF), jointly
organized by the International Trade Centre (tTC) and the Ministry of Development Strategies
and International Trade of Sri Lanka through the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB),
will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from l2th to l3s October 2016.
Under the theme 'Trade for Success: Connect, Compete, Change', WEDF 2016 will focus on
helping SMEs flourish in regional and global value chains against the backdrop of new trade
realities: the digitalization ofthe global economy, dramatic shifts in consumer demand and buying
power, and new pattems ofregional integration.
The World Export Development Forum (WEDF) is a unique global conf,erence and business-tobusiness
matchmaking event dedicated to supporting trade-led development.
As the flagship event of the lnternational Trade Centre (lTC), WEDF brings together over 600
senior policymakers, business leaders, and representatives of trade and investment support
institutions and international trade agencies to address trade competitiveness topics and to
establish new partnerships. ITC is the only United Nations organization with an exclusive focus
on assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to internationalize. In Sri Lanka, where
9l% ofbusinesses are SMEs, EDB is the key agency promoting linkages to international markets
and partners.
Parallely, there will be a B2B meeting Session and a Mini Exhibition for the visiting overseas
participants with the selected & most competitive 50 Sri Lankan companies in the sectors of
apparel, rubber, tea, food, gem & jewellery and ICT/BPO etc. during the period. More
information on the same will be made available to you soon.
I wish to attach herewith a brochure on the same. You may also visit the website of the ITC
http://www.intracen.org/itc/events/world-expert-develaplnen!.lo!unn/ for more information.
Considering the importance of the Forum, I wish to invite you to attend this Forum with a business
delegation from Korea. Should you wish to obtain further information, please contact Mr. Jagath
Abeywarna, Minister Counsellor / Commercial or Mr. Jun Hyung Lee of the Commercial Section
of the Embassy on mission@slembkr.org and Tel: (0082-2) 6921-6926