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Sri Lanka’s biggest export, investment and tourism brand promotion a success

Saturday, 16 November 2013 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

 
  •  7,000 visitors to ‘Reflection’ so far
  • 90 international machinery exhibitors
  • “Good going so far!”: Rishad
  • Expo-within-expo event by China at ‘Reflection’
  • 740 from CHOGM Biz Forum
  The biggest Lankan trade, tourism and investment exposition in history enters its fourth day today (16 November). “The number of Lankan and international exhibitors has increased to 728. We also have more than 650 registered international buyers now. We also have a special expo within the expo by China at this event,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday in Battaramulla. Bathiudeen was explaining the progress of ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ – the integrated tourism, trade, investment and SME exposition inaugurated on 13 November in Battaramulla – to a visiting private Chinese investor delegation from Hai Dian District, Beijing at the ‘Reflection’ venue.     Interesting progress “We see interesting progress so far. The 728 exhibitors consist of 208 SMEs, 320 national exporters, 80 inbound tour operators, 90 foreign machinery exhibitors and 30 local machinery exhibitors.  Within the 90 foreign machinery exhibitors, there are manufacturers as well as technology providers. We also have a BOI one-stop-shop as well as an information counter by EDB. More than 740 international delegates attending the CHOGM Business Forum too were among the visitors,” Bathiudeen said. ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 13 November evening in the presence of a large number of Lankan and international dignitaries as well as media. A total of 90 foreign companies are taking part, with machinery and hi-tech equipment exhibitors representing key markets China, India, and Germany, Thailand, Dubai, UK, Taiwan, Japan, Pakistan, Germany, Canada and Korea participating in the expo. Business delegations from India, Iran, Germany, Bangladesh, South Africa and China also visited ‘Reflection’. Some B2B meetings were held with Sri Lankan firms. The international participants have enlisted through online registration and the Sri Lankan missions in their respective countries.     Expo within an expo Inside ‘Reflection’ is an expo within an expo – the China Engineering and Technology Expo event by the China International Contractors’ Association (CHINCA), China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Chinese Government officials, officials of Chinese Embassy in Colombo and China Machinery Engineering Corporation. The CMEC stall, spanning 1,300 Sq Ft, showcases 50 Chinese enterprises – including many businesses across many sectors, from engineering contractors to engineering equipment manufacturers. Addressing the inauguration on 14 November, Bathiudeen said: “We thank the partnership of the Chinese Government and the business organisations in our development projects. We welcome CHINCA to partner with us in our projects. Bilateral trade between the two countries has been increasing over the years, to record US$ 2,676 million in 2012. Gradual increase in our exports to China during last the few years is a positive sign in this direction. Last year the value of our exports to China recorded US$ 108 million.  Our main exports to China are coir products, coffee, tea and spices, rubber and gems and jewellery. This increasing trend is a clear indication of the potential that exists for further expansion of our trade in goods. The initiatives taken during the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to China this year to expand bilateral trade through FTA are very important for the bilateral journey between China and Sri Lanka.” As of mid-day yesterday (15), the ‘Reflection’ venue attracted almost 7,000 visitors. The strategic thinking behind ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ is to leverage the opportunities provided by CHOGM as a platform to illustrate Sri Lanka’s capacity to easily integrate with global value chains. ‘Reflection’ will also highlight the country’s logistic capabilities, high knowledge base and its dedication to international compliance standards encasing trade and tourism and their investment opportunities. The event, co-organised by the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the EDB, joined by Sri Lanka Tourism and the Board of Investment, is a historic Sri Lanka brand push targeting the movers and shakers – the international decision and policy makers as well as investment influencers arriving for CHOGM.  

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