Embassy in Vietnam to promote Lankan products, tourism in Hanoi

• To hold ‘Sri Lanka in Hanoi: a cultural fiesta’ in Vietnam from 27 to 29 April

Promoting tourism and Sri Lankan products among the Vietnamese, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam will hold ‘Sri Lanka in Hanoi: a cultural fiesta’ at the Vietnam Women’s Museum from 27 to 29 April.

The event is a collaboration between the Embassy of Sri Lanka, the Vietnam Women’s Museum and Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprises Association. The event is organized in connection with Sri Lanka celebrating its 70th Independence and also to mark the 48-years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.  Giving a chance for the Vietnamese to experience Sri Lanka at their door-step, there will be an exhibition of paintings on Sri Lanka, exhibition of photographs on Sri Lanka – Vietnam bilateral relations, Sri Lankan films and documentaries, Sri Lankan products – handloom fabric, batik tea, spices, handicraft and gems, Sri Lankan music and food. Holding the event at the Vietnam Women’s Museum, which was founded in 1987 and ranked in the top 3 of the 94 best attractions in Hanoi by TripAdvisor, it is expected to attract a large number of local and international visitors to the Sri Lankan cultural fiesta. “As a female Ambassador in Hanoi, I have been closely collaborating with the Vietnam Women’s Museum on wide range of issues and projects. This has now enabled me to obtain facilities at their premises to organize the event almost free of charge,” Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake said. She said that exhibition of paintings by renowned Vietnamese artist Van Duong Thanh with some collection of paintings connected to Sri Lanka will also be held at the Museum while a travel book on Sri Lanka, Morrocco, Japan and Portugal written by a famous Vietnamese travel writer Di Li will also be launched at the opening ceremony on April 27. Ambassador Dissanayake said that Sri Lankan in-bound travel agencies, Sri Lankan companies interested in promoting their products - gems and jewellery, food & beverages, ayurveda/herbal products, spices, handicrafts, tea, batik, handloom-made items, gift items such as small brass items, handloom western cloths & shawls - both cotton & silk, etc - have been invited to take part in the event.

Ambassador Dissanayake commenting on Sri Lanka - Vietnam relationship said that two nations were strengthened their bilateral relations during the formative years of Vietnam and also in its eventual efforts for unification.  “The two countries are also well connected due its affinity to Buddhism and the political links between the two countries were firmly established with the founding leader of Vietnam, late President Ho Chi Minh visiting Sri Lanka in 1911, 1928 and in 1946,” she noted.

The bilateral trade in 2016 was US$ 364.42 and total exports from Sri Lanka were only US$ 94.67 (in 2017) from January to November the total trade between two countries was recorded as US$344.58.

Vietnam’s economic growth is continuing with a sound agricultural and fisheries base. Agriculture accounts for almost 20% of GDP and today Viet Nam is among world’s top 10 exporters of Cashew, Pepper, Tea, Coffee, Desiccated coconut, Rice, Clove, Cinnamon (cassia), Fish and etc.

Ambassador Dissanayake, commenting on the female’s contribution to Vietnam’s economy, said that Vietnamese women play an increasingly important role in the economic development.

“In agriculture, one of the country’s key sectors, women make up some 70% of the labour force, and in production, especially in the workforce in export-oriented industries, such as garment and textile, footwear, light industry, and seafood processing. Vietnam ranked 19th in the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs 2017 and was placed 7th in terms of the rate of women business owners, 31.4%. Some of the leading women entrepreneurs include CEOs of Vietjet Air, TH True Milk, Vina Milk, Canifa, PNJ Jewellery, SeA Bank, REE Corporation, IPP Group, HD Bank etc,” she noted.

Dissanayake said that considering the importance and especial features of the Vietnamese economy, the event would be a good opportunity for Sri Lankan trade representatives to interact with Vietnamese enterprises as well as to learn from their experiences.  She said that the Embassy has much help from the Vietnamese friends of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan community for organizing the event, in addition to effectively using the representational allowances of the diplomats and was thankful for support of Sri Lanka Tourism Board and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority. Above all, I find many novel ways to organize events effectively with a minimum budget,” she said.

The Embassy expects over 1000 visitors during the three-day cultural fiesta. (SS)