USAID/SRI LANKA PARTNER Y2 Q3 REPORT

The project's primary objective is to mobilize and effectively manage public financial resources, improve trade facilitation, and enhance revenue generation. In the third quarter of Year 2 (April 1 to June 30, 2021), PARTNER progressed ongoing activities with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the private sector, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Planning Department (NPD) approved a Project Submission Format (PSF) to conduct a capacity-building program on export facilitation for Export Development Officers (EDOs) attached to the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB). This program aims to enhance the capacity of EDOs to guide emerging enterprises to become "export ready." PARTNER also facilitated the Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) and the Kegalle District Secretariat to submit PSFs to NPD, identifying potential areas for technical support. The External Resources Department (ERD) informed USAID of NPD's recommendation to implement a Real-Time Data Dashboard for the Ministry of Energy (MOE), which PARTNER anticipates initiating implementation in the next few months. In addition, PARTNER launched the Compliant Economic Operator (CEO) - Authorize Economic Operator (AEO) Program, which supports the private sector to comply with the "trusted traders" initiative introduced by Sri Lanka Customs, in meeting Sri Lanka's commitments under the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The PARTNER team worked closely with independent think-tank Verité Research to compile a database and register of GOSL-selected Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) governing agricultural trade in five main categories: fruits, vegetables, floriculture, horticulture, and coconut products. PARTNER continued sustaining private sector engagement through the Export Business Recovery Support Service (XPRESS) initiative by supporting exporters with COVID-19 business recovery. Throughout the reporting quarter, this activity provided business coaching support to firms participating in XPRESS. PARTNER also commenced work on assessing the digital maturity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) exporters to address trade-related digital readiness of SMEs. The Trade Tips video series, alongside Trade Watch and the Import/Export Control Gazette Change Brief products, expanded PARTNER's contribution to addressing the information gap in the private sector and the trade regulatory environment. The "Trade Watch" webpage and web traffic statistics indicate continuing daily site visits by users throughout this period, with total page views of 95,074 and 49,446 site visitors as of June 29. A total of 442 updates were posted and 9,655 queries handled during phase II of Trade Watch (from October 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021).