News

Harvard economist calls for tariff reforms to increase exports

February 9, 2018

Robert Lawrence/Sri Lanka project - Daily FT

Making a compelling case against tariff regimes, renowned Harvard economist Dr. Robert Lawrence yesterday called for a simpler system with significantly lower tariffs in order to increase Sri Lanka’s exports.

Delivering a lecture on protectionism organised by the Advocata Institute in Colombo, Prof. Lawrence, who is the Faculty Chair of the Practice of Trade Policy program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School, said that imposing tariffs is the wrong way to raise revenue, highlighting the need for tax reforms with...

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Harvard to conduct online Economic Diplomacy course for officials of Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry and Commerce Department

March 7, 2017

Colombo Page

As part of its economic diplomacy role, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken a unique initiative to design and implement an online Economic Diplomacy Course catering to Sri Lanka's specific economic needs and challenges.

This Course is a result of the Foreign Ministry's collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Harvard University, one of the most prestigious Universities in the world.

The ceremonial launching of the Course was held today, 7th March 2017 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presided over by the Acting...

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Sri Lanka needs Economic Knowhow

January 11, 2017

Daily News

Professor Ricardo Hausmann of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government delivered a lecture entitled “Increasing your chances of success while leaving your comfort zone: adapting Sri Lanka’s growth model to new constraints,” yesterday at BMICH.

Hausmann, who runs the Kennedy School’s Center for International Development, and his team have been studying Sri Lanka’s economy for the past year. His lecture spanned over two hours and covered the country’s current economic shortcomings and its paths to increased growth. His findings, to be frank, are...

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Sri Lanka should rethink Immigration, Diaspora policies

January 10, 2017

Lanka Business Online

Sri Lanka should rethink its immigration, diaspora and product development policies so as to encourage more complexity in exports, economist Ricardo Hausmann of Harvard University said in Colombo on Monday.

Immigrants and diaspora bring with them significant know-how and skills necessary for the setting up of new industries, a process which Sri Lanka could benefit from, he said.

EDB collaborating with Harvard Center for International Development to boost exports

January 5, 2017

Daily FT

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is collaborating with the Harvard Center for International Development on a project to identify and rapidly catalyse new or emerging export sectors and enlarge Sri Lanka’s export basket. 

The initiative is being held under the guidance of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the Board of Investment (BOI).