GTEX Sri Lanka Welcomes New Beneficiary Companies at 2025 Onboarding Event — Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), together with the International Trade Centre (ITC), Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), recently launched the second phase of the Global Textile and Clothing Programme (GTEX2) in Sri Lanka. The initiative, implemented from 2024 to 2027, aims to enhance the competitiveness and global market presence of the country’s apparel sector.

About On boarding Event

The International Trade Centre (ITC), in close collaboration with the Export Development Board (EDB), Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) and with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland, successfully held the GTEX Sri Lanka Beneficiary Onboarding Event on 8 December 2025 at the Galle Face Hotel. The event brought together apparel and textile enterprises, national institutions, consultants, and academia to launch the new cycle of GTEX assistance for 2026.

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is a vital pillar of the national economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and employment. The Government of Sri Lanka has set a national target of achieving USD 8 billion in apparel exports by 2030. To reach this ambitious goal, the EDB has undertaken several initiatives.

The GTEX Sri Lanka Beneficiary Onboarding Event was held at the Galle Face Hotel with the participation of apparel enterprises, industry stakeholders, national institutions, BSOs, and academia. The event introduced the new cycle of GTEX assistance for 2026 and outlined programme objectives and benefits for newly selected small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Distinguished attendees included Mr. Olivier Praz, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland; Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman, EDB; Mr. Matthias Knappe, Head of Fibres, Textiles & Clothing Unit, ITC; representatives of ITC; and Mr. Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General, JAAF, along with sector institutions and beneficiary companies.

Delivering the opening address, Matthias Knappe, Head of the Textile and Fibre Unit at ITC, provided an overview of ITC’s global work and GTEX Sri Lanka’s progress to date. He outlined the programme’s priorities for the coming year, including strengthening SME competitiveness, deepening sustainability practices, and supporting Sri Lankan apparel producers to access new markets.

Representing Switzerland, Olivier Praz, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland, reaffirmed his government’s continued commitment to sustainable, export-oriented growth in Sri Lanka through the GTEX partnership.

Mr.Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), highlighted the strong collaboration between ITC and EDB in advancing the competitiveness of the textile and apparel sector. In addition, he stated that the Government of Sri Lanka has set a national target of achieving USD 8 billion in apparel exports by 2030 and to reach this ambitious goal, the EDB has undertaken several initiatives including the re-establishment of the Export Development Council of Ministers, strengthen existing markets, market diversification, promote export-led investment and strengthen SME companies to become exporters.

Mr. Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) also underscored the industry’s priorities.

Mr. Roshan Peries, National Project Coordinator, introduced the programme’s technical team of consultants, followed by short briefings delivered by Eranthi Premaratne, Sumith Siriwardena, and Rasanjanie Liyanage. Their presentations covered Environmental compliance and sustainability, Social compliance and process improvement and lean methodologies.

Academic partners Dr. Prabod Munasinghe and Dr. Srimala Perera from the University of Moratuwa and ITUM reflected on their ongoing collaboration with GTEX in areas such as circular economy business models, sustainability and circularity.

In addition, this onboarding session provided SMEs with insights into capacity-building opportunities under GTEX2, including customized training, expert guidance, and access to international best practices. A dedicated networking segment facilitated direct engagement among beneficiaries, technical advisors, and programme coordinators, promoting collaboration and peer learning.

As Sri Lanka aims for USD 8 billion in apparel exports by 2030, GTEX2 is expected to play a pivotal role in driving innovation, strengthening sustainability, and elevating Sri Lanka’s position as a competitive and ethical sourcing destination.