Global e-system to boost Sri Lankan apparel export volume

08 Apr '13

2 min read

Apparel exports from the South Asian island nation of Sri Lanka are likely to get a boost as the country’s small and medium apparel exporters are to be linked to global customs electronic system, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

If things go as per plan, the shipments of Sri Lankan apparel exporters can be linked to the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) global e-system by May 2013, and this would give a major boost to the country’s current apparel export volume of US$ 2.8 billion, Mr. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, said in the statement.

The initiative was taken by the Ministry after such a request was made by small and medium apparel exporters. From May 2013, over 220 registered small and medium garment exporters are likely to benefit from ASYCUDA’s apparel export module.

ASYCUDA is a computerized customs management system which covers most foreign trade procedures. The system handles manifests and customs declarations, accounting procedures, and transit and suspense procedures. The ASYCUDA software is developed in Geneva by UNCTAD. It operates on micro in a client server environment under UNIX and DOS operating systems and RDBMS Software.

Currently, small and medium garment exporters in Sri Lanka use Proposed Shipment Declaration (PSD) format and it will be replaced by electronic submission after May 2013. The speedier clearance and paperless process will result in cost savings in terms of time and money.

In 2012, about US$ 46.7 million worth of garments were exported from Sri Lanka by 71 small and medium exporters.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India