Sri Lanka participates in APAS Trade Show in Brazil

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brazil, in association with the Ministry of Plantation Industry, Coconut Development Authority and the Sri Lanka Tea Board, organised Sri Lanka’s first participation in the APAS Trade Show held from 2-5 May at Expo Center Norte in Sao Paulo, the main metropolitan city of Brazil.

Sri Lanka pavilion was declared open byDeputy Minister of Plantation Industries Lakshman Wasantha Perera and Sri Lankan Ambassador in Brazil General Jagath Jayasuriya. 

“Brazil is a promising market with a population of over 200 million which is yet to be explored by the Sri Lankan business community. The participation at the trade show is indeed an initial step,” Deputy Minister Perera said after opening the pavilion.

Ambassador Jayasuriya said that the APAS Trade Show is an ideal gateway to the huge Brazilian market for Sri Lankan exporters who are engaged in products related to supermarkets. According to the Ministry of Labour and Education of Brazil, the supermarket sector in Brazil has been standing out in the Brazilian economy due to its creation of jobs and for its contribution to the nation’s development. 

The total revenue of the super market sector in 2015 was over R $ 315 billion (US$ 95 billion) with 1.8 million employees. More than 60% of the total revenue went to the 10 largest supermarket chains in Brazil i.e. Pão de Açúcar, Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Cencosud Brazil, Zaffari supermercados, Super Muffato, Condor supermercados, supermercados BH, Sonda Supermercados and Supermercados Comper.

An assortment of coconut products displayed by A.S Agri Exports, Waguruwela Oil Mills, Hero Nature Products, N.D.C Exports and the Sri Lanka Coconut Development Authority was attracted by leading import companies in Brazil. Coconut Development Authority Chairman Udaya Kumara Rupasinghe was quite optimistic that Sri Lankan companies would be able to penetrate the Brazilian market. Though Brazil is mainly a coffee consuming country, there is an encouraging demand for tea from health conscious Brazilians, especially the young generation. Nalaka Sanjeewa, Market Analyst of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, said that the show was helpful to evaluate the Brazil market.

Commercial Counsellor of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brazil Premathilake Jayakody coordinated the Sri Lanka participation in the show while Ministry of Plantation Industry Director Sureka Attanayake and Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Coconut Development Authority Wasuladattha Herath assisted Sri Lankan participants throughout the event.

The APAS Trade Show is organised annually by the Sao Paulo Super Market Association, which has been representing the super market sector in Brazil for over 45 years with more than 1,340 associated member companies and over 3,000 stores. 

The 2017 APAS Trade Show witnessed 718 exhibitors out of which 239 were international exhibitors from 27 countries. The show had a footfall of 74,288 business visitors including 560 foreign proprietors. The next edition of the show is scheduled to be held from 7-10 May 2018.