Framed around the core principles of resilience, integrity, and responsible trade, the forum highlighted how secure and compliant trading practices are essential not only for national security, but for sustainable, long-term participation in global markets.
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Sustainable Trade Through Strategic Integrity
As the trade of sensitive goods and dual-use technologies expands, the forum underscored the importance of embedding sustainability into compliance. Participants explored how transparent and well-regulated trade systems not only protect against proliferation risks but also enhance reputational capital, investor confidence, and operational continuity, key dimensions of a sustainable trade ecosystem.
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Robust compliance mechanisms, including the implementation of Internal Compliance Programs (ICPs), were discussed as enablers of both ethical practice and commercial resilience. In a global landscape increasingly defined by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, the ability to handle strategic goods with integrity is no longer a narrow regulatory concern, it is a core requirement for future-fit, sustainable trade hubs.
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Learning from Regional Leadership
Participants benefited from the shared experiences of ASEAN trailblazers, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines who offered practical insights from their early adoption of strategic trade control legislation. Their reflections emphasized the value of institutional maturity, cross-agency coordination, and industry outreach in shaping effective compliance ecosystems.

Industry Perspectives: Compliance in Practice
A panel of Sri Lankan industry leaders, Harini Jayaweera, Rohan Perera, Ph.D., Dhakshina Perera, and Priyantha Punchihewa offered practical discussion on navigating compliance challenges in real-world settings. The session also explored actionable approaches to identifying red flags, building internal capacity, and responding to risk.

Finally, an interactive session led by our President and the U.S Commerce Department drew from real-life case scenarios, including the design of risk-based ICPs and effective remediation planning, reinforcing the practical and applied nature of the forum.

A Collaborative Effort
This event was proudly hosted in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy and the Sri Lanka Department of Import and Export Control, and supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program.

The Centre for Trade Excellence remains committed to advancing a secure, ethical, and sustainable global trade environment—where resilience is built not just through regulation, but through leadership, shared learning, and cross-border cooperation.
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