In this issue

In a time of upheaval, how should Sri Lanka approach supply chains?

Despite the challenges, Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing and export supply chains have shown significant resilience. Of Sri Lanka’s exports, apparel is the largest. While they have been challenged, apparel supply chains have remained intact compared to, for instance, those for semiconductor chips.

However, the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed a major risk of globalisation, which is that it concentrates production and eliminates buffer stocks. For several decades now, supply chains have been tuned for maximum speed and efficiency. Companies, like Sri Lankan apparel producers, have specialised to concentrate expertise and scale. Now, however, there are growing worries that these fast and efficient supply chains are a source of vulnerability. Self-reliance is a new mantra in some industries.

However, it would be a mistake to consider supply chins a source of vulnerability. For years, private sector firms have been apt at adapting to long term threats including geopolitical tensions, shifting economies of scale, and even the risks posed by pandemics. Just like trade promotes openness, protectionism spreads from one country to another.

Sri Lankan businesses including MAS will be considering how to shore up the resilience of their supply chains including moving their geography closer to customers. As manufacturing automates, some production may also move onshore to the main markets for apparel. In response to disruptions, private companies are acting to build more resilient supply chain models. Without any untoward government meddling, they will succeed in adjusting the global supply chains to new vulnerabilities.

Echelon Magazine Description:

Intelligent Storytelling

The one thing that will define the Echelon magazine will be the quality of the storytelling. Echelon,published monthly, will cover in depth Sri Lanka’s most successful businesses, examine their winning strategiesand profile their leaders in immersive stories. Great stories are also never limited to words, and our approach includes rich photography, bold graphics and leading edge design which together will make for a compelling read.

But business doesn’t start and end in a boardroom;it extends to the golf club greens, to international travel and to pursuits that blurthe lines between commercial venture and sheer passion. The Echelon team will present the best in business and lifestyle coverage that will appeal to an exclusive and affluent readership: an otherwise hard to reach demographic.

Content will be developed by one of the most experienced and proven teams of editors, financial journalists, photographers and designers in the country.This team has already raised the bar for powerful and expertly crafted business news. Shamindra Kulamannage, will lead the editorial team.

The reputation of Echelon is being built on the separation between editorial and advertising. However we are also looking for the most creative and impactful new formats that can be applied in our magazines, iPad app as well as website to help our clients reach our audience. We are flexible and creative and we will have a solution for every single advertiser who wants to reach our audience.

We are passionate about creative results and about working with our advertisers to help them create bespoke multi platform creative solutions with our in house creative team and of course our sales team.

Echelon will be a great place to show off the products and capabilities of our clients because they will be surrounded by an editorial product that is expertly crafted, full of integrity and intelligence.