Sri Lanka food companies participate for first time at Saudi Foodex 2024

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh, in collaboration with the Export Development Board and Tea Board of Sri Lanka, organised the participation of 12 Sri Lankan food and beverages exporter companies for the first time of its kind at the 11th edition of the Saudi Foodex 2024 Exhibition held in Riyadh from 16 to 19 September. 

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia O.L. Ameer Ajwad ceremonially inaugurated the Sri Lanka pavilion at Saudi Foodex, which is a premier platform that significantly boosts participating nations’ economies by creating new trade opportunities and fostering international business relationships. 

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad pointed out that the joint participation of Sri Lanka’s renowned Tea and Food exporter companies first time at Saudi Arabia’s top international trade exhibition named FOODEX, would serve as a catalyst to boost Sri Lanka’s export products to the Saudi market. Ambassador also underscored that such participation would showcase Sri Lanka’s high-quality tea and other local food products and help to find opportunities under the food security initiatives that are being planned under the Vision 2030 of the Kingdom. He further highlighted that while Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries during the current year, the first-time joint participation by Sri Lankan food and beverages companies was a significant initiative with a view to further consolidating bilateral private sector interactions between the two countries in the days ahead. 

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh also organised B2B networking sessions for the visiting Sri Lankan food and beverages companies with their counterparts from the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce at the sidelines of the FOODEX. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted a luncheon at the Embassy premises in Riyadh in honour of the visiting Sri Lanka trade delegation with the participation of the representatives from Riyadh-based hypermarkets and supermarket chains. 

Representing tea sector, Sri Lankan companies namely Meezan and Company Ltd., A.F Jones Exporters Ceylon Ltd., Sri Lanka Ceylon Tea Land Ltd., Expoteas Ceylon Ltd., Enrich Tea and Food Exports Ltd., as well as Mackwoods Ltd. participated. Representing food sector, Sri Lankan companies namely Zaya Global Exports Ltd., Maliban Biscuits Manufactories Ltd., Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises Ltd., Consolidated Business System Ltd., Eco Paints Ltd., Aqua ‘N Green Ltd., Norfolk Foods Ltd. as well as Sri Lanka Export Development Board participated at the Saudi FOODEX - 2024.