Technical Assistance to Building Capacity of Sri Lankan Garment Exporters to Access Market in the United Kingdom

Reference: PX/SRL/0478
Location: Sri Lanka and United Kingdom
Duration: 60 person days or 12 person weeks
Closing Date: 25 Aug 2011

Background

The Government of Sri Lanka, through the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has requested the Commonwealth Secretariat for technical assistance to enhance market access capacity of Sri Lankan garment manufactures to UK market.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is the apex trade promotion and development body in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1979 under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act of 1979, and now functions under the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.

Garment is a thriving global industry. The world trade in clothing is estimated to be US$ 308 billion annually.

The garment sector is the major contributor to Sri Lanka’s export earnings with 40% (US$ 3.1 billion) of the total earnings. The industry generates direct employment opportunity to approximately 340,000 personnel, making it the largest employer in Sri Lanka, whilst indirectly creating employment opportunities to more than 700,000 personnel. The imports of garments to Europe are around US$ 307,940 million while exports from Sri Lanka to Europe was only US$ 3,120 million, which is less than 1.2 %.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) launched the “Export Strategic Plan 2010-2015” for promotion of export products from Sri Lanka in December 2010. The Garment sector was indentified was one of the thrust sectors for export promotion. One of the main goals of the National Export Strategy is to promote and establish the credibility of Sri Lanka exporters in foreign markets and establish market penetration mechanisms. Towards this goal, recommendations are made to organize market penetration strategies in priority markets in Europe. From the inception the UK was one of Sri Lanka's priority markets for promoting garments.

Purpose of the project

The overall goal of this project is to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic development through export development.

Description of the project

The main objective of the project is to carry out a market access study on garment exports to UK, examining main market access constraints and ways to enhance the market access capacity.

Scope of work

The consultant(s) will work closely with the Project Manager from the Special Advisory Services Division (SASD) and, using internationally acknowledged methodology, will perform the following tasks:

• Develop a strategic export marketing plan
• Identify market entry and promotional strategies for UK market
• Recommendations on short, medium and long term strategies that should be put in place to improve the country’s garment export capacity to UK
• Conduct capacity building workshop in Colombo Sri Lanka¹
• Conduct a supplier /buyer forum in UK in November 2011
• Identify key buyers from UK to attend forum
• Preparation of detailed action plan, budget and strategy for increase Sri Lankan garments exports to UK

Objective of the buyers/seller forum London (co hosted by Sri Lankan High Commission in London and assisted by Commonwealth Business Council)

• Inviting leading garment buying houses from UK to meet Sri Lankan suppliers
• Establishing business contacts
• Formalising commercial agreements

Consultants’ output

• Detailed action plan, budget and strategy for increase Sri Lankan garments exports to UK
• Strategic Export Marketing plan
• Conduct a capacity building workshop in Sri Lanka
• Conduct Buyer/Seller forum in London

Expected project outcomes

• Increase awareness of market access requirements to UK
• Increase garment exports volume
• Increase Export earning

Key performance indicators

• All project deliverables produced within budget and schedule
• Interim outputs and final reports accepted by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and other key stakeholders

Responsible to

Project Manager/ Advisor (Trade), Special Advisory Services Division.

Required expertise

• Proven international expertise and experience in Garment Export Market Development
• Extensive knowledge on market access issues relating exporting garment to UK
• Demonstrate in depth knowledge and good relationship with UK garments buying houses
• Proven experience of conducting buyer/seller forums
• Proven international experience of conducting projects of similar nature
• Post graduate qualifications in International trade, economics, international marketing, international business and law are desirable
• Excellent communication skills are essential, as is the ability to interface effectively at all levels

Duration and project budget

The total duration is 12 person weeks. The project budget is at an all inclusive fee of £23,410.00 (includes fees, subsistence allowance, air travel expenses, Incidentals and any other project related costs).

Submission of proposals

You are required to submit a proposal which should include the following:

• Company profile
• Resume of consultant(s)
• Proposed approach to effectively deliver the outputs
• Budget and time lines

Closing date

The deadline for submission of proposals is 2359 hours BST on Thursday, 25 August 2011. Proposals should be marked to the attention of:

Mr James Lek
Human Resources
Commonwealth Secretariat
Email: j.lek@commonwealth.int

1 Costs of organising the workshop and buyer/seller forum are borne by the Commonwealth Secretariat

Download the Terms of Reference