$ 1.5 m worth negotiations stem from ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’
Saturday, 16 November 2013 00:00
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ShowcasesSri Lanka’s diversity in trade, exports, tourism and investment
By Cheranka Mendis
The ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka,’ trade, tourism and investment exposition has resulted in $ 1.5 million worth negotiations between local and international partners in one and a half days since its opening.
Speaking to Daily FT at the expo site in Battaramulla, Export Development Board Chairman Bandula Egodage yesterday stated that by 12:30 p.m. yesterday (Friday, 15 November) the exhibition has draw in 500 international buyers, 650 Commonwealth Business Forum delegates and has seen 95 international buyers registering online.
Buyers were from India, China, Canada, UK, UAE, Iran, Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, Singapore and Seychelles, with buyer delegations attending with national representatives from China, India, South Africa and Iran.
Massive participation
The site, showcasing the diversity of the Lankan economy has also managed to attract 10,112 locals between the opening day (13 November) and 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.
“The response has been great so far. We are happy to note that the networking at the site has resulted in negotiations worth $ 1.5 million within one and a half days,” Egodage said.
“Of course these have not been realised so far and are only on the negotiation state. However, we remain confident of the progress of these tie-ups,” he added.
Featuring 14 large makeshift halls featuring a range of products and services from some of the country’s key trade areas, the exhibition housed 98 stalls featuring 300 local exporters, 200 SMEs, 100 hospitality and leisure industry operators and over 100 foreign machinery manufacturers and technology providers.
The halls primarily focused on tourism, tea, rubber and rubber-based products, fruits and vegetables, coconut and coconut-based products, food and other beverages, spices and allied products, herbal, and ayurvedic spa products and services.
In addition, the EDB, BOI, Sri Lanka Institute of Architects also displayed services along with gems and jewellery, Sri Lankan machinery, manufacture and technology providers, ICT/BPO/KPO, professional services, electric products, print and packaging, base metal products, giftware, lifestyle and toys, apparel, boat building, handloom, footwear and leather, ceramic and mineral products also on show.
SMEs in focus
The halls that hosted local SMEs were by far the most colourful, showcasing some of the country’s exquisite crafts and creations such as ‘beeralu’ lace and beautifully made Palmyrah-based products from Jaffna. These stalls also seem to attract a lot more visitors than some others.
Foreign machinery manufacture and technology providers were allocated three halls with one dedicated to Chinese companies that have set up in Sri Lanka such as China National Machinery, China Machinery Engineering Company and China General Technology, among others.
Spanning across 200,000 square feet, the area was abuzz with both local and intentional participants enjoying the Sri Lankan products and services showcased at the event. The area also featured some of Sri Lanka’s key agriculture-related productions ranging from paddy to wheat, pineapple, maze, sweet potato, carrot, cinnamon, cashew, coffee, pepper, brinjals, cloves, chillie and labu (type of pumpkin) and cloves.
The site also housed three mud huts that offered participants a chance to sit down and enjoy a cup of typical Sri Lankan ginger tea while munching on just-off-the-stove kevum, kokis (and other sweetmeats) or hot-hot ‘isso wade’.
A designated area also hosted some of the country’s key food and beverage stalls offering meals and quick snacks for those at the exposition.
The exposition will close tomorrow evening and has been organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Industry and Commerce together with EDB, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the BOI.
Pix by Upul Abayasekera
