Sri Lanka Embassy in Warsaw secures export opportunities for diverse products

Poland First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda purchased Ceylon tea, including Biedronka’s private label Ceylon tea, Remsey. She was fascinated by the striking tropical col-ours of the handloom items, and the vast assortment of traditional and eco-friendly items on display

 First Lady with the Embassy team and Sri Lanka well-wishers on 5 December 2022

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Warsaw, Poland, concluded the last quarter of 2022 by actively participating in several public diplomacy events, which helped further consolidate export opportunities for diverse Sri Lankan products.

Engagement in these events also served to project Sri Lanka as an attractive cultural and tourism destination and enhance people-to-people contacts.     

In the first week of December, the Sri Lanka Embassy stall at the 15th International Charity Bazaar 2022 in Warsaw, became a major draw for the First Lady of Poland  Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Polish visitors, including importers and distributors.

The artistry and vibrant colours of a range of handloom and batik products (beach wraps, shawls, sarongs, table linen, etc.,), traditional handicrafts, including Ceylon tea and spices that were on display, not only enthralled the visitors, but also transformed them into avid buyers.  The proceeds were donated to the Polish charity The Association of Parents and Friends of the Blind and Visually Impaired Children – “Rainbow” in Warsaw.

In the past year, the Sri Lanka Mission observed from the numerous inquiries it received from members of the Polish public and Sri Lanka well-wishers, the high appreciation of and increasing demand for Ceylon tea, spices, handloom items (sarongs, beach wraps and shawls and accessories, etc.), handicrafts, including traditional masks and woven reed/rattan baskets, handbags, etc., porcelain tableware and giftware, and Ceylon gem encrusted costume jewellery. 

There are special occasions for gift giving in Poland such as, Holy Communion, Name Days, Christmas, etc. and the customers usually seek culturally original and eco-friendly gift items. In order to harness this specific Polish customer demand, the Sri Lanka Embassy was successful in inspiring a well-established Polish entrepreneur in the gastronomy sector, to open a “Ceylon Tea Parlour cum Emporium” in Warsaw.  Later in the year, a similar outlet will be set up in the tourist driven Polish port city of Gdańsk and the heritage city of Krakow. 

Ambassador Semasinghe presenting a Kandygs handloom saree to the First Lady of Poland

The Embassy of Sri Lanka stall at the 15th International Charity Bazaar 2022 in Warsaw on 5 December 2022