The July 22 National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) delegation to Jaffna marked far more than another business conference. It represented another significant milestone in the Northern Province’s steady transformation from a post-conflict region into an emerging centre for exports, investment, entrepreneurship and private sector-led economic development.

Held at the District Secretariat Conference Hall in Jaffna, the programme brought together the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), the Industrial Development Board (IDB), the Export Development Board (EDB), the Northern Provincial Administration, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna, financial institutions, logistics providers, digital technology companies and entrepreneurs.

The morning Business-to-Business Forum commenced with opening remarks by Provincial Director S. Sivagengatharan, a welcome by Indhra Kaushal Rajapakse, President of the National Chamber of Exporters and Chairman of TMC Jaffna, followed by a presentation from NCE Secretary General/CEO Shiham Marikar. The Governor of the Northern Province and the Consul General of India also addressed participants.

An important contribution came from Shanmuganathan Suganthan, President of the Chamber of Northern Exporters, highlighting the Chamber’s commitment to supporting Northern entrepreneurs and expanding export opportunities.

TMC Jaffna (The Management Club – Jaffna) served as an organising partner for the event, working closely with the National Chamber of Exporters and other stakeholders to promote entrepreneurship, exports and investment across the Northern Province.

Representatives from Seylan Bank, Smart Marine Lanka and Dialog Enterprise presented banking, logistics and digital solutions for exporters, while dedicated B2B sessions connected entrepreneurs with potential partners. The Export Development Board later conducted workshops on export standards, certification, logistics, banking, finance, digital marketing and social media.

The programme demonstrated that Northern Sri Lanka is steadily moving beyond post-conflict recovery towards sustainable economic development. It complements initiatives such as the Northern Investment Summit (NIS 2026), the One Stop Shop for Investors (OSSI), discussions on the development of Jaffna Port and Airport, tourism promotion and stronger engagement with the Tamil diaspora.

A significant driving force behind this momentum has been the continued leadership and encouragement of Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan. Since the successful Northern Investment Summit (NIS 2026) in January, the Governor has consistently supported collaboration between government institutions, business organisations, investors, educational institutions and the Tamil diaspora. His commitment to investment promotion, exports and entrepreneurship has helped create an environment where programmes such as this can flourish, and is expected to encourage many more similar initiatives in the future.

Yesterday’s event should not be viewed simply as another conference. It was a practical demonstration of how collaboration between government institutions, business chambers, financial institutions, development agencies and international partners can transform the Northern Province.

With the National Chamber of Exporters, the Industrial Development Board, the Export Development Board, the Chamber of Northern Exporters, TMC Jaffna as the organising partner, and the continued leadership and support of Governor Vethanayagan, Northern Sri Lanka is steadily building a strong ecosystem for exports, entrepreneurship and investment.

If this collaborative approach continues, the region has every opportunity to emerge as one of South Asia’s leading regional centres for exports, innovation, diaspora investment and inclusive economic growth.