EDB plans permanent exports display centre

By Cheranka Mendis

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board is considering putting up a permanent ‘Export display centre’ at its present premises at Navam Mawatha by early 2012.

The Display Centre which is set to occupy one floor of EDB’s current premises with 10,000 sq. ft. of space to showcase a cross section of local exports.

EDB Chairman Janaka Rathnayake speaking to Daily FT stated that the objective behind the centre is “to display a wide range of products exported from Sri Lanka, give information about the said products” and also create a one-stop shop concept where foreign buyers can view the range of products available and receive information on any particular item.

It would be arranged as a modern meeting centre with high technology and would double as a Business to Business (B2B) meeting centre, Rathnayake said.“It would be a modern, state-of-the-art facility and would display our best export products,” he assured. Planning is already underway for the project and the premises should be ready to open for public display by early next year.

Meanwhile the preliminary work on the EDB organised Expo 2012 is going according to plan and the EDB aims at bringing down 1900 serious buyers and investors from overseas to participate in the three day fair.

Rathnayake stated that the buyers and investors are targeted from the key markets for local exports. The investors will be brought down from countries that have been identified as having high potential as well as from countries that currently bring in high returns.  With Expo 2012 scheduled to be held in March next year, EDB is working with several parties to ensure its success, he said. The External Affairs Ministry, embassies, trade chambers and exporters have been consulted on the organisational part of the event, he added.

Some 300 exporters will showcase their products at the event. A special pavilion will be organised for the small and medium sector exporters. The exhibition will be open to invitees only for the first two days and will be open to the public on the last day. “We have received a very good response from the exporters of the country,” Rathnayake said.

A symposium attended by prominent speakers from all over the world will also be held alongside the Expo 2012 exhibition.

The EDB will also hold a workshop to create awareness about Expo 2012 among various parties in October this year, he noted. It was said that Foreign Ministry personnel, head of missions and 15 Ambassadors in strategic markets have been invited for the workshop.