Mahinda turns marketer

By Cheranka Mendis

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday turned a true marketer, pitching for higher foreign investments and sourcing of  ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ products and services, whilst sending a strong message to the international political community.

The platform the President used was the packed and also ‘sweaty’ opening ceremony of the Sri Lanka Expo 2012 at the BMICH.

A crowd of several hundreds including foreign buyers and investors along with the diplomatic community, Government officials and local business leaders attended the ceremonial opening, which initially caused great inconvenience for an hour owing to the design of the makeshift venue and a breakdown of air conditioning. However, snapping the opportunity of a captive foreign audience post-Geneva setback, as well as the importance of the first-ever export show in over 15 years, President told the ceremony: “It is my belief that the large international presence at this event is a clear indication of the growing awareness in the world of the new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.”

“You are here today with a measure of confidence in Sri Lanka that has not been diminished by false propaganda that is currently spread by those who are trying to prevent investment flowing into our country,” he added.

The Export Development Board had put the number of registered foreign visitors to Expo 2012 at over 1,300 from 55 countries.

Speaking to an international audience for the first time since the passing of the US-led resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva last week, the President also emphasised that the presence of foreign participants at the Expo 2012 opening showed “the failure of the efforts of those who still support the agenda of separatist terror that prevented development in Sri Lanka for more than three decades”.

“You are a strong and valuable vote of confidence in Sri Lanka, an expression of growing trust in the new opportunities for export trade in a country that was famous for international trade from ancient days,” the President stressed, after highlighting some of significant recent economic achievements and developments in the country.

He also said that during the four-day exhibition and investment forum foreign, participants would be able to see the many opportunities for export-related business in what will soon be the new commercial hub of the modern day Silk Route.

“We are a new hub of opportunity in a vast field of business. As much as we are encouraged by your presence here today, I urge you to make the most careful studies of the progress we are making and earn the best profits by your confident investments,” the President told the Expo 2012 opening.

He also went a step further, urging the foreign participants to discover the challenges of opportunity in a land liberated from terror and participate in the progress of Sri Lanka.

He expressed hope that after four days of fruitful discussions, foreign buyers would establish firm links with Sri Lankan exports to add more value to the businesses of each other.

Despite the hiccups prior to the opening, the President commended the Export Development Board, all its partners in the State and private sectors, the exhibitors from Sri Lanka and abroad and participants in all related corporate activities for their commitment to the success of the unique mega event.

Over 350 stalls by large companies and over 60 from the Small and Medium sector are displaying a wide range of products and services at Expo 2012, which also includes a top-level investor seminar today and a fashion show.