Ministerial delegation promotes Lankan spices in Brazil

Tuesday, 20 November 2012 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion Reginald Cooray and three delegates visited Brazil during 21-26 October 2012 on a trade promotion mission for Sri Lankan spices.

The Minister and the delegation held official meetings with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Brazil Mendes Ribeiro and senior officials in Brasilia.

At these discussions, Minister Ribeiro had agreed to provide assistance to Sri Lanka for crop management during severe droughts with the technology available in Brazil.

Subsequently, the delegation had visited EMBRAPA, the headquarters for Agriculture and Livestock Development and Research in Brazil. EMBRAPA President Dr. Mauricio Antonio Lopes has agreed to provide assistance in research to Sri Lanka and requested assistance from Sri Lanka to develop pepper plantations in the Amazon region in return.

The Sri Lankan delegation had also held discussions with the officials of the Ministry of Industrial Development and External Trade in Brazil and with the President of International Chamber of Commerce in Rio de Janeiro.

During the visit, two trade exhibitions were held at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brasilia and in Rio de Janeiro, attended by Government officials, entrepreneurs, and diplomats. The Brazilian entrepreneurs were impressed with the high quality of Sri Lankan spices and showed keen interest in purchasing cinnamon, pepper, and other spices in the near future.