Saturday Sep 28, 2024
Saturday Sep 28, 2024
Wednesday, 23 October 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Landscaped with promenades and model tea and coconut gardens, a food court and entertainment centres, the exposition is expected to feature over 700 exhibitors while over 1,000 buyers have come forward to enlist. It will also attract delegates, including some 450 CHOGM business delegates. The exhibition will be open on three days for the general public as well (14, 15, 17 November).
Individual invitations have also been sent to 1,400 foreign buyers through Sri Lankan missions overseas, foreign missions in Sri Lank and trade chambers by the EDB. Buyers are expected from India, China, Canada, UAE, UK, Iran, Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, Singapore and Seychelles while buyer delegations are expected from China, India, South Africa and Iran.
Planned to fit into large-scale international expos, ‘Reflections of Sri Lanka’ will comprise 16 halls, 968 stalls, one conference hall, two meeting rooms and an operational unit spanning over 200,000 sqft behind the proposed zoo and the Janakala Kendraya in Battaramulla (adjoining the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Road), which is now under renovation to become ‘Ape Gama’ (a folk art centre). Construction is expected to be completed by 6 November.
Synergising three key economic factors – trade, tourism and investment – the event will tap in to the promotional budgets of its organisers: the Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Industry and Commerce, together with the Export Development Board (EDB), Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the BOI.
SLTPB has set aside Rs. 50 million for the project, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Bhashwara Gunarathna confirmed to Daily FT yesterday, noting that it would also sponsor 100 SME sector participants for the Commonwealth Business Forum organised in conjunction with CHOGM 2013.
The event is also supported by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Authority in association with related Government agencies and trade chambers.
An effort towards achieving export value of US$ 15 billion by 2015 as envisioned under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana – Vision for the Future,’ the exposition will consist of product exhibitions, B2B meetings, awareness seminars and factory visits. EDB Chairman Bandula Egodage said: “I am 200% confident it will be the landmark exhibition in Sri Lanka in history.”
He noted that 300 exporters have been chosen from those who replied to a paper advertisement by EDB and would showcase their products in 355 stalls. There will be 200 export-oriented SMEs in 100 stalls, 25 machinery exporters in 36 stalls, 82 tourism-related parties in 100 stalls, and 100 international technology providers who add value to local exports in 200 stalls at the event. The trade stalls concentrate on seven key sectors – tea, apparel, gem and jewellery, spices, food, rubber products and ICT/BPO.
“With the objective of pushing them up the value chain and grooming them to be world class exporters, the 200 SMEs representing different regions have been given an opportunity to showcase their products and services in a special pavilion dedicated to them alone,” he said.
Egodage noted that the exhibition would shed light on the country’s social and ethical compliance efforts to gain a competitive edge such as eschewing the use of child labour and green manufacturing.
Under the Sri Lanka Tourism umbrella, there will be 82 industry participants at the exposition along with two designated stalls for SriLankan Airlines and six stalls making a common area for visitors to gather. 100 tour operators have confirmed attendance, Gunarathna said. “The operators who have confirmed are from UK, China, Russia, India, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Germany, France, Middle East, Japan and Australia,” he added. “Operators from Philippines and Seychelles will attend with their national tourist board representatives.”
In supporting the SMEs, Sri Lanka Tourism will handle the printing of all individual brochures and business cards for the participants, Gunarathna assured.
Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen noted that the exhibition would assist the country in its march forward as the country’s exports record an increase of 1.07% in the period January to September, in comparison to the same period in 2012.
Investment and Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana noted that the impact of CHOGM was likely to show in the coming years as investment and economic growth rise.
Australia is said to have achieved a US$ 10 million increase in investment in the four years after the country hosting CHOGM. “We will inform the business delegates and potential buyers and investors of the subsidies that we provide and the flexible policies and efficient methods we have in place for investment in the country.”Ministry of Industry and Commerce Secretary Anura Siriwardena addressing the event said: “This is a rare but a very opportune moment to enhance the image of Sri Lanka among international businesses.”
