Mannar’s mega industrial show sales exceed Rs. 10 m; blue chips entering region

The 2011 Agriculture, Livestock, Technology and Machinery Exhibition together with the Mannar Investor Forum and Financial Facilitator Forum, which is the first-ever mega event of this nature to be held in this region, has grossed more than Rs. 10 million in its on-the-spot sales alone.

During its two days’ duration more than 3,000 visitors thronged the show, while strong participation from Colombo’s private sector was seen in its Investor Forum and Financial Services Facilitator Forum.

The mega show was inaugurated by Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 12 October at Murunkan MV, Murunkan. The event was jointly hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED) of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Mannar District Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

The exhibition, which was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, District Secretariat – Mannar, Northern Provincial Department of Agriculture – Mannar and Northern Provincial Department of Animal Production and Health – Mannar, was supported by the European Union.

FCCISL’s estimates at the end of the two-day event revealed that more than Rs. 10 million sales had been successfully concluded. Among the on-the-spot sales contributing to this revenue were five tractors (agro sector), plants and seeds, sales of rice mills, de-husking and processing machine  setups (three) and many agro sector water pumping machine units.

These completed sales values do not include additional or confirmed orders for purchases and other inquiries to be processed in the coming days. As for agro and industrial machinery alone, more than 1,000 inquiries have been lodged. DIMO, the sponsors for the event, also revealed that very high interest was seen for paddy harvesting machinery. In comparison, inquiries for fertilisers and pesticides appeared to be lesser.

Hayleys, Browns, Dave Tractors (distributors in Sri Lanka for John Deer tractors) and Red Rose Garments were among the successful sellers at the event reporting profitable participation.  Some of these firms also played a top role in the Investor’s Forum.

“As potential investors, we are happy of the outcome,” a private sector representative said in the immediate aftermath of the Investor’s Forum. The highest private sector interest for investments was for tourism, fishing and palmyrah product development sectors respectively.

Among the active banks in the Financial Services Facilitator Forum were Sampath Bank, People’s Bank, Bank of Ceylon and HNB. Among the agro insurance aspects that were in high demand were crop insurance. HNB Assurance appeared to attract many prospective farmer clients from the region.

Minister Bathiudeen, inaugurating the mega show, said: “A first-ever mega event of this nature held for the region, it bestows me and my people with great honour.”

Mannar region voters are also represented by Minister Bathiudeen as he was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in April 2010 from the Wanni, comprising of Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu Administrative Districts.

Speaking on the background to the event, he said: “The story of this mega event goes as far back as 2009 when Oxfam GB was contracted by the European Union as an implementer of the project ‘Socio-Economic Development for Conflict Affected Communities of North and East Sri Lanka’. The project was to improve access to infrastructure and enhanced capacity to significantly improve household income and food security of conflict affected families. The committed Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka is the key national private sector implementing partner of Oxfam.

“As you may already be aware, Mannar has been a very backward region due to the three decades of war and now, in the aftermath of the new peace in Sri Lanka due to the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Mannar region has begun to develop at a rapid pace.

The social aspects, infrastructure and livelihood have been enhanced greatly and as a result, Mannar region, like all other districts of Sri Lanka, is now on its way to become a top contributor to our GDP. I have no doubts whatsoever that mega events of this nature will continue to push Mannar to national and international economic maps.”