China Guangxi Product Exhibition kicks off in Colombo

• 3-day event showcases array of investment opportunities

By Shannon Jayawardena 

The China Gaungxi Product Exhibition kick-started yesterday, showcasing an array of investment opportunities for all local investors and businesses across the country at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC).

The event is being held from 18 to 20 May. Entrance is free for the public and officials invite all those interested to visit and indulge in Guangxi’s beauty and witness what the city has to offer in terms of both trade and investment opportunities.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen stated: “This event is one of the largest Chinese exhibitions in Sri Lanka and we thank the Government of Guangxi for their keen interest to partner with Sri Lanka. Today’s event is taking place when cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is going in a new path.”

Minister Bathiudeen also noted that the partnership between the two countries dated back centuries and the relationship had continually developed. Sri Lanka-China trade has increased to $ 4.4 billion and with the proposed FDI, the Minister believes trade will continue to grow.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka Economic and Commercial Counsellor Yang Zuoyuan said: “Guangxi is one of the five ethnic groups of the autonomous region of China and is one of the most cultural provinces of China, having a GDP of $2 trillion as of 2017. China and Sri Lanka have been enjoying good relations and our people are very close to each other. Guangxi is also an important hub in the One Road One Belt initiative and plays a key role among the partnership between the two countries.”

He also emphasised that this exhibition is aimed at uplifting high-level trade and economic partnerships between China and Sri Lanka. Through this they hope to introduce more tea, gems, jewels and other products of Sri Lanka to China as well. Zuoyuan believes that such events will enable the two countries to partner for a brighter future.  The exhibition highlighted the many products that Guangxi has to offer, with 67 stalls featuring items ranging from machinery equipment to food and beverages, arts and crafts, furniture, home-ware, leather, garments and so forth. 

Several of Gaungxi’s leading brands such as BL Technology, Guangxi Guanren Trading Co, Guilin Pharmaceutical, Guangxi Wuyi Pipe Industry, Baofull Co, Horis Trading, Eisho Co, Guangxi Harvest Import Export Company, Guangxi Yangli Aluminium, Nanning Weining Market Development and Maolida Trade Development showcased their products at the exhibition.



National Chamber of Commerce Director General Bandula Dissanayake said: “We have on display electrical and tech products, cottage industry products, food and animal products and medicine and health products. We invite all the entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka to get in touch with the buyers and investors to explore the trade opportunities that the exhibition has to offer.”

The good image of Guangxi brands is hoped to be displayed throughout the exhibition so that the entrepreneurs from both sides will view this event as an opportunity to expand their business horizons.

The event is organised by the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region China along with Canton Fair Advertising as its Co-Organiser and the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka as event supporters.

Pix by Kithsiri De Mel