‘Lankapack 2012’ geared to showcase best local packaging solutions

Monday, 31 October 2011 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Cheranka Mendis

The latest packaging solutions, equipment and development models will be on show next May at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Hall with the launch of ‘Lankapack 2012,’ organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging and the Packaging Development Centre.

Packaging, known as a multifunctional service which adds value to a product and enhances its competitiveness in the market, is a US$ 1.5 billion industry, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen said earlier this year. The industry, which has been in existence for the past three decades or more, operates successfully as an export product as well.

The exhibition and trade fair, set to be held on three days starting 25 May, will not only showcase the best in the local industry, but also showcase international practices and standards used world over.

The organisers of the event acknowledged that the member organisations of the Asia Packaging Federation such as China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan had been requested to pass on an open invite for manufacturers of packaging machinery and material in their countries to partake in the event.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging, the only packaging industry association established in 1975, has the exclusive rights to showcase packaging developments in the country through its annual/biennial exhibitions, the organisers said.

Said to be one of the oldest packaging industry associations in Southeast Asia, SLIP has over the years uplifted the standards of Sri Lanka packaging from a deplorable state to the competitive position witnessed today.

“Promotional exhibitions portraying both local packaging developments and technical advances in the developed world are held with the participation of regional and global giants in the field of packaging.”

SLIP has been holding international packaging exhibitions in Colombo since 1984. The last ‘Lankapack’ was held in 2007. The institute held joint exhibitions with the Food Processors Association in 2003 and 2005. However, due to disadvantages faced by exhibitors from the packaging sector and on request of most of the industry’s exhibitors, the institute decided to hold its own exhibition in 2007.

Even though the initial expectation was to host the exhibition as biannual event, the institute did not organise events in 2009 and 2011 due to reasons beyond its control.

For next year’s event, full day seminars on packaging-related topics are also being organised,

The Platinum Sponsor of the event is PCL Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. The Gold Sponsor is Jupiter Trading Ltd., while the Silver Sponsor is Euro Asia Packaging (Pvt) Ltd.

The World Packaging Organization, Asian Packaging Federation, Ministry of Industries and Commerce and Smart Expos Ltd. are marketing associates in India for ‘Lankapack 2012’.

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