The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) is stepping up international engagement through the Chamber’s growing network of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign chambers of commerce and trade organisations, creating more opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters to access overseas markets, build business partnerships and participate in international trade initiatives.

The NCE has now signed 21 MoUs with chambers and business organisations in Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nepal, Qatar, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Korea and the Maldives. The latest addition to this network is the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), further developing the Chamber's ties with one of Sri Lanka's largest export markets.

The Chamber uses these partnerships to organise business-to-business (B2B) meetings, cross-country trade delegations and business networking opportunities that support Sri Lankan exporters in identifying new markets and expanding existing commercial relationships. This provides a platform that allows local members to connect with members of international chambers

Moreover, as part of these efforts, the NCE plans to lead an international business delegation to India, followed by a delegation to Italy, enabling members to make use of the partnerships established with the trade chambers in both countries.

The MoUs also help exchanging information on economic developments, market trends, foreign trade and investment policies, and other areas relevant to bilateral trade. In addition, the partner organisations cooperate in sharing information on symposiums, conventions, forums and other business events, while supporting participation in international trade fairs, exhibitions and promotional activities held in their respective countries. The agreements also provide assistance to visiting members travelling individually or as part of business delegations.

This development in international engagement comes at a time when Sri Lanka's merchandise exports are showing steady growth in several of the countries where these partnerships are in place. According to the export data for the January to June 2026 period, merchandise exports to India increased by 36.16% year-on-year to USD 688.47 million, making it Sri Lanka's second-largest export destination after the United States. Exports to Italy also recorded growth of 6.58%, reaching USD 337.20 million during the first six months of the year. Exports to China increased by 19.56% to USD 159.22 million, while Australia recorded a 9.89% increase to USD 135.86 million. Japan registered growth of 15.74% to USD 104.20 million, and exports to Belgium rose by 4.72% to USD 120.36 million.

India also recorded the highest growth among Sri Lanka's major export destinations during June 2026, with exports increasing by 156.73% compared with the same month last year. Exports to Türkiye grew by 74.37% during the month, while Mexico recorded growth of 42.86%, highlighting continued opportunities in several international markets. Overall, Sri Lanka's merchandise exports reached USD 6.9 billion  during the first half of 2026,  with a growth of 6.3%, and overall  export earnings increased by 3.3% year-on-year to USD 10.4 billion during the same period.

Through an expanding network of international partnerships, the NCE will continue working with overseas chambers to create practical business opportunities for Sri Lankan exporters and support their engagement in global markets.