Overseas trade officers roped in for Expo 2012 drive

Over 700 global participants already in says Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Sri Lanka Expo 2012, the mega export show of international scale to be held after 15 years, has been boosted by active enlistment of country’s Department of Commerce for the show’s international outreach.

The mega-show has also managed to successfully enlist increased number of international participants as well as a new feature-a special pavilion for local SME’s.

“Today, I direct overseas trade officers of the Department of Commerce under my Ministry to actively take part in the international dissemination efforts of Expo 2012 to be held in Colombo from 28 March,” announced Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.

With the participation of top officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Minister made this announcement yesterday when he was chairing a special review meeting of Sri Lanka Export Development Board under his Ministry.

Among the top officials of the Ministry who were also present on the occasion were  Tilak Collure (Secretary),  Janaka Sugathadasa (Additional Secretary), Janaka Ratnayake, (Chairman and Chief Executive of Sri Lanka Export Development Board), Asitha Seneviratne (Additional Secretary), Dr. Yousuf Marikkar (SLEDB Executive Director) and officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Department of Commerce (DoC) and SLEDB.

Accordingly, Sri Lankan trade officers of Department of Commerce posted abroad will actively begin to disseminate latest and updated information pertaining to Sri Lanka Expo 2012 as early as this week and beginning next week specially to enlisted participants from their respective countries and in general, to others. DoC is responsible for promoting Sri Lanka’s foreign trade relations, foreign trade policy formulation, and all related coordination and implementation matters.

Minister Bathiudeen was also informed by EDB Chief Ratnayake that more than 700 international participants as having confirmed their participation as a result of EDB’s promotional efforts, but around 1000 international delegates as the likely total number

Bathiudeen also commended the increased SME participation at Expo 2012. “I have been given to understand that more than 70 SME exhibitors will be filling the SME pavilion” he said. “This is a real boost to our SMEs which has more than 70% in our industrial sectors” Minister Bathiudeen added.

Sri Lanka Expo 2012, is coordinated by a Cabinet-appointed Ministerial Committee and is a National Event also coordinated by a high level Officials’ Committee. The mega exhibition is expected to considerably strengthen Sri Lanka’s exports target of US$15 billion by 2015 as envisaged by the Mahinda Chinthana vision. The mega event is in reality three events in one- national promotion of our trade, investment promotion and tourism promotion. “More importantly, this event will also instil global buyer confidence in Sri Lanka’s production capabilities,” announced Minister Bathiudeen earlier speaking about the mega show.