Brazil trade delegation visits Plantation CRT Trade Fair

A high-powered trade delegation from the Federative Republic of Brazil, one of the BRICS nations, visited Sri Lanka from 10to 12 August to participate in the CRT Trade Fair organised by the Ministry of Plantation Industries, which was held at the BMICH. 

The delegation was led by Ambassador of Brazil Elizabeth-Sophie Balsa, and was supported by Counsellor Bruno Pereira, and comprised six rubber industry leaders engaged in rubber production. 

As any student of history would know, Brazil is the original source of the Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis and the Sri Lankan rubber industry has benefitted largely from the rubber seeds originated in 1876 from the Amazons in Brazil.

The irony however is, today, Sri Lankan rubber products manufacturers export high quality products including latex gloves and tyres to Brazil which are made out of rubber obtained from third or fourth generation rubber trees developed from the original stock of Brazilian seeds. This has prompted Brazil to explore and learn from Sri Lanka about the workings of Sri Lankan rubber industry which is considered world class in certain respects. Sri Lanka is known as the world capital of solid tires. 

On the advice of the Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake, the officials of the Ministry organised the three-day study program with private sector support. Lakna Paranawithana, Advisor to the Minister, guided the delegation during their visit. 

On the first day, the delegation visited one of the best-managed Sri Lankan rubber plantations including a state-of-the-art nursery and a model latex crepe factory at Sapumalkanda. They were very impressed with the visit to a large latex glove manufacturing facility at Seethawaka EPZ. Senior officials of Lalan Rubbers Ltd. facilitated these visits. 

The entire delegation participated in the inauguration ceremony of the CRT Trade Fair on 11 August and also paid a courtesy call on Minister Navin Dissanayaketo conduct discussions on possibilities of bilateral cooperation on trade matters. The discussions were very fruitful and cordial. 

They also visited the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka at Agalawatte to study diverse R&D programs implemented by the RRISL, which is the oldest rubber research institute in the world. The whole of the third day was utilised to conduct business meetings with Sri Lankan industrialists and business persons to lay a foundation for joint partnerships.

At the end of the third day, a cocktail reception was held at the residence of the Ambassador of Brazil prior to the departure of the delegation where they expressed their delight on the learnings and general outcome of the tour. 

Ambassador Balsa thanked the Government officials and private sector members who were present profusely for excellent arrangements made for the benefit of the delegation. She summed up predicting that both countries would benefit immensely from the future outcomes of this initial step.