Sri Lanka exports marketed at SIAL Paris: Exceptional event at heart of agribusiness world

SIAL Paris 2016, one of the largest consumer fairs in Europe, convened in France from 16 to 20 October, attracting a large number of exporters from Sri Lanka prompting them to seek a wider market for their products mainly in the West. More than 6,500 French and international exhibitors from 105 countries displayed their food products at SIAL Paris, ranging from ingredients to processed products, including fresh produce.

On the inaugural day of the exhibition Ambassador Tilak Ranaviraja along with Commercial Counsellor Alexi Gunasekera networked with the participants in discussing strategies to maximise Sri Lanka’s efforts in increasing the volume of its current exports. As a catalyst to these efforts, the embassy arranged for meetings for Sri Lanka officials on the sidelines of the fair, to meet with Business France, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Paris and the France Tea Association focusing the discussions on enhancing cooperation in trade and investment. 

Sri Lanka pavilion attracted the world’s premier brand ‘Ceylon Tea’ with popular labels on display. The visitors to the exhibition were fascinated with the value added teas such as earl gray, lemon, apple, peach, mango, strawberry, mint etc and spice flavours such as cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Besides this, the opportunity was given for the visitors to taste the distinct flavour of ‘Ceylon Tea’ from seven regions of Sri Lanka in the ‘Tea Board’ stand.

A wide variety of coconut products from Sri Lanka was also on display. Participating at SIAL presented a comprehensive opportunity to the coconut products exporters to get a detailed analysis of the market, its dynamics, structure, characteristics, main players, and growth and demand drivers. Market research confirms that refined coconut oil enjoys a high demand in France and other developed countries, with its diverse applications as a health product and in the cosmetics industry. The demand especially for virgin coconut oil and coconut, water has substantially improved in the French market and across Europe. 

Sri Lanka has been participating in this bi-annual fair continuously with many positive outcomes. In 2016, Sri Lanka’s participation numbered 30 enterprises/companies and a diverse exports basket ranging from spices confectionaries, rice etc. apart from tea and coconut.  A large number of companies being present elevated the level of the country giving wide publicity. Sri Lanka exports to France stood at Euro 292 million according to French Customs statistics in 2015.

The companies represented with the Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Coconut Development Authority included  Adamexpo, Expolanka Ltd., Nestle Lanka PLC, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., Renuka Agri Foods PLC, Consolidated Business Systems Ltd., HJS Condiments Limited, Jayakody Natural Products,  Expolanka teas Ltd., Hero Nature Products Ltd., Grupo Canela Ltd., Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises Ltd., Lanka Spices Ltd., Unitrades Ltd., Grand Emporium of Tea & Herb Ltd., Ceylon Tea Land Ltd., Euro Asia Co- Operation Ltd., Uva Halpewatte Estates Ltd., Sri Lanka Tea Board, Ceylon Coconut Company, Heritage Lanka Virgin Coconut Oil, NMK Agro Industries Ltd., VSS Products Ltd. and Abey Marine Ltd. There were more than ten other individual companies participating at the fair displaying an array of Sri Lankan food products. 

The Embassy of Sri Lanka together with the Export Development, Board Tea Board and Coconut Development Authority had information booths setup in the fair in which the publicity material were displayed and distributed to the business visitors.  

 SIAL Paris also known as the ‘largest supermarket in the world’ – covering  27 hectares (the equivalent of 100 supermarkets), allows five intense days of engagement entirely dedicated to discovering products and trends, and the facilitating of meetings between producers and buyers from around the world. It also creates a platform for discussion and debate about industry challenges: sustainable food, zero waste, allergies, connected food.

Along with the Ambassador and Commercial Counsellor, Chairman Coconut Development Authority, Darshana Perera, Director Export Development Board and Gayan Samaraweera of the Tea Board coordinated the Sri Lanka participation at the event.