Profood Propack 2019 braves safety concerns; notches 25% more visitors

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen visits his Ministry’s pavilion at Profood Propack and Agbiz Processed Food Exhibition 2019 in Colombo on 4 August 

Sri Lanka’s most comprehensive food and packaging International trade fair, the Profood Propack and Agbiz 2019 Exhibition, launched on Friday (2 August), has recorded 25% more visitors in comparison to last year, beating all present concerns of safety and security surrounding such public events in the country. 

“More than 300 exhibitors from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and China are taking part in this year’s event,” said Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development and Vocational Training Rishad Bathiudeen after visiting the event yesterday.  

“The 18th edition also shows that this event is increasingly becoming one of the largest food, beverages, packaging and agri-business related events in South Asia,” he said.

“Originally commenced by our Ministry in 2001, it has now become a platform for networking by the local and international participants from these sectors.”

The 18th in the series has 300 exhibitor stalls with an India pavilion for 67 Indian firms. Despite safety concerns, visitor numbers have surged by 25% compared to last year, to total 20,000 by mid-day yesterday. The expo also has seven Chinese and even Bangladeshi firms. Indian food and agri-multinationals such as Goma Process Technologies and Vibgyor International are part of this expo. All major Lankan brands in food processing and packaging – including Cargills, Bairaha, CBL Foods International, CIC, Darley, Harischandra Mills, Hayleys, Jagro, MA’s Tropical Food, etc., – are also part of the expo. Goma Process Technologies Vice President – Marketing Srinivas Sondur said that despite safety concerns after the Easter Sunday bombings, Goma Process Technologies – the leading brand in India for liquid food machinery processing supplies such as yoghurt and milk products – is “pleased to join the Colombo expo”.

“We have been coming to this series for the last eight years, and in our view, the bombings were only a passing situation,” said Sonduur, adding: “We have no worries in coming to Sri Lanka and will continue to come even in the future. We are a leading supplier to local companies in liquid food machinery processing and have supplied to 40 Sri Lankan companies already. Despite the safety concerns, our orders this year in Colombo have not fallen, except for one or two categories,” he said. 

The privately-held Goma Process Technologies was established in 1982 and is now one of the top three process technology suppliers in India.