Pro-Food Pro-Pack ascends to become Sri Lanka’s largest industrial masterpiece

 From left: Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) President-elect Nishan Perera, SLFPA Immediate Past President Maliek De Alwis, SLFPA Secretary Thusith Wijesinghe, Minister of Industry Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Cooperative Development Rishad Bathiudeen, SLFPA President Sarath Alahakoon, and Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services CEO Aasim Mukthar (far right) on 26 February at the Cinnamon Grand preparing for the awards session for winners of the 17th Pro Food Pro Pack expo

• Pro Food-Pro Pack int’l series is Sri Lanka’s largest industry expo: Rishad
• 18th Pro Food-Pro Pack announced with two int’l pavilions and a local SME pavilion
• Lankan food sub-sector at Rs. 100 m, employing 1.5 m: Rishad

Eighteen years since it was initially launched and thereafter driven by the Industry and Commerce Ministry, the Pro-Food Pro-Pack expo series has now become the country’s largest exhibition event for its manufacturing sector.  

“Pro Food Pro Pack is the most comprehensive international trade fair commenced here in 2001. We can be satisfied that this event is Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturing expo and is increasingly becoming one of the largest food beverages packaging and agri-business fairs in South Asia,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons and Cooperative Development Rishad Bathiudeen on 26 February in Colombo. 

Bathiudeen was addressing the launch event of 18th edition of Pro-Food Pro Pack exhibition series (to be held in August in Colombo) and awards night of its (previous) 17th Expo at the Cinnamon Grand, joined by Sri Lanka Food Processors’ Association (SLFPA) President Sarath Alahakoon, SLFPA Secretary Thusith Wijesinghe, Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services CEO Aasim Mukthar and key industry personalities. This year’s 18th expo will feature 370 exhibition stalls and machinery exhibition pavilions from India and China. The Ministry will showcase a special pavilion for SMEs of these sectors during the forthcoming expo.

“We commend SLFPA for its efforts. Since the launch of this series in 2001 there has been much progress in the processed food sector by way of improvements in technology, packaging, product development, and marketing. The local and overseas participation too has been significantly growing.  With 370 stalls on display at this year’s expo, this event is the largest in this series and in Sri Lanka manufacturing as well. This year there will be a special pavilion by the Ministry for the SME sector,” said Bathiudeen. “There is a great number of micro and SME enterprises active in this industry. In fact we believe that more than 40% of our SMEs are in food processing sector. This sub-sector is therefore highly significant in our economic planning. Therefore the ministry is working to enhance the food sector through many projects. This is the reason that a special pavilion by the Ministry for the SME sector is maintained this year. Among other initiatives for SMEs by the Ministry are the ‘Facilitation of SMIs in food sector through packaging’ project and the ‘Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certification to Improve Food Safety in Small Industries’ (GMPCIFSSI) project. With such new initiatives strengthened by the ongoing Pro-Food Pro Pack series, I believe that there are great prospects for this sector in future. I also commend the commitment of Sri Lankan industry personnel to develop these sectors.”

Sri Lanka’s food-processing sub sector is reported to be at Rs. 100 million, employing 1.5 million workforce. The Industry and Commerce Ministry’s pioneering GMPCIFSSI project introduces international ISO certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 to this critical sub-sector.  

SLFPA officials said they were now making arrangements to receive food and agro sector exhibitors from India and China for the 18th Pro Food Pro Pack expo to be held at BMICH, Colombo from 2-4 August.