Splendours of Lanka’s exports

Saturday, 9 April 2011 00:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka is fast emerging as a quality exporter of new products shedding the old image of shipping traditional goods such as tea and more lately garments. One of the unique exports was a rare variety of sea horses which were on display at the three-day Expo Bazaar 2011 opened yesterday at Green Path, Colombo 7. It was among the star attractions as one of the visitors captures the exhibit via his mobile phone camera. Exporter Aquamarines International Pvt. Ltd, is the only breeder of sea horses in South Asia - Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Cheranka Mendis

EDB organised Expo Bazaar kicked off yesterday down Green Path, Colombo attracting large crowds from the public and diplomatic missions. With over 130 stalls dedicated to Sri Lanka’s exports both of the high end and the low end, the exhibition was a first ever to be held in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition asserted that the exhibition was part of the government’s nation building process. He stated that taking the word of Sri Lanka’s lucrative export industry to the world is important at the moment and that the state has realised that the best way is through word of mouth of the people of the country. “For the first time the local community will be able to actually see the high quality products that brought in a record export revenue of $ 8.3 billion to the country in 2010. The event is a unique one and one that would be continued in the years to come,” Bathiudeen said.

“We want to tell the people that Sri Lanka is open for business. What better way to say this than show them the best we have got?” he questioned. Meanwhile Chairman of EDB Janaka Rathnayake stated that export industry plays a vital role in development of the country as well as the poverty elimination process in the country. Sri Lanka faces intense competition in the world market in exports, but has maintained high levels of quality throughout the years, he said. “Our hope is to get USD 15 billion by 2015 and we are confident that we would be able to achieve this without any major glitches. The country is poised for growth and export industry is ready to support this process,” Rathnayake said.

The exhibition which showcases a variety of products and services from the traditional tea, rubber, coconut and apparel to the more new cut flowers and foliage, fruits and vegetables and ornamental fish will go on till Sunday. The EDB expects to see a crowd of 40, 000 people within the three day exhibition.