National SME Forum 2025 Opens New Doors to Global Markets and Growth Opportunities

The National SME Forum 2025 organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce brought together over 200 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from across Sri Lanka, alongside government institutions, development partners, corporate leaders, and trade support organisations, offering SMEs the opportunity to connect directly with key stakeholders, access practical support, and explore new business and export opportunities.

Organised under the theme ‘Scale Up’, the forum featured an insightful agenda, tailored to address the real-word challenges faced by SMEs, including access to finance, leveraging digital tools, navigating policy reforms, and the transformative role of AI, with a strong focus on export market integration. A special session titled “Expanding into Export Markets: Opportunities Beyond Sri Lanka” enabled SMEs to engage directly with trade representatives from India, the UK, the EU, and the UAE.

Delivering the welcome address, Mr. Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber, emphasised the importance of SMEs as a national economic priority. “Today marks an important milestone in our collective effort to strengthen one of the most vital segments of our economy – the small and medium enterprise sector,” he stated. Highlighting the Ceylon Chamber’s three-pillar strategy of Policy Advocacy, Engagement, and Market Access, he added, that the participation of SMEs from across the country strongly signaled the national scope and inclusivity of the conversation relating to scaling up Sri Lanka’s SME sector.

Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, in his speech highlighted that the forum is a powerful affirmation of a shared commitment to uplifting SMEs, which are the very backbone of the economy, and highlighted the Government’s efforts to drive inclusive entrepreneurship and unlock the sector’s full potential.

Ms. Shruti Gupta, Vice President and Head of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, India and South Asia at Visa delivered the keynote address. Drawing from global and Asia-Pacific SME trends, Ms. Gupta noted that “SMBs account for over 90% of global firms, 70% of employment, and up to 70% of GDP—but they remain underserved and under-leveraged.” She emphasised the role of digital platforms, alternative finance, and embedded solutions, among other evolving trends, in enabling SMEs to scale efficiently and compete globally.

A Business Matchmaking & Support Clinic ran parallel to the forum, facilitating direct engagement between SMEs and buyers, banks, chambers, and trade support institutions. Industries represented included tea, spices, ICT, wellness products, food and beverages, crafts, and eco-solutions.