“SA can boost our F&L market diversification efforts”: Rishad

The fifth International Footwear and Leather Fair organised by the Export Development Board under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Lanka concluded successfully on 10 February, with the distinguished patronage of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, joined by MP Namal Rajapaksa.

President Rajapaksa joined by MP Rajapaksa also personally distributed awards to many Lankan footwear and leather achievers during the afternoon event. The three-day fair drew strong local crowds as well as exhibitors, participants and international industry reps from India, Jordan, Poland, and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka’s SME F&L sector found many promising promotional opportunities during this event.

At the 10 February event, Sri Lanka also expressed its positioning of developing leather and footwear market linkages with its booming neighbourhood – the South Asian region.

“We believe that getting closer to South Asia, which is the second fastest economic growth region in the world, at present, can help us to source the much needed footwear and leather sector foreign direct investments easily to expand the sector beyond current export levels of 31 million dollars,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen addressing the event.

Addressing the President, he added: “I am pleased to inform yourself that this year’s international show and fashion event ending today have brought a tremendous response from local and international participants and delegations, thereby providing ample proof that your committed vision to achieve $ 20 b exports by 2020 through export diversification is on track, despite the challenging international market outlook.”

Over 200 Lankan and foreign exhibitors have become keen promoters of this three-day event, of which the organiser is the Export Development Board assisted by the Industrial Development Board.

“The Jordanian delegation, the strongest international team to attend this year, has already commenced negotiations with some selected Sri Lankan suppliers. The other top international delegations are from Poland and Nigeria.  Strong South Asian participation is seen. That is, participants from India and Bangladesh are displaying a better raw material base than last year,” revealed Bathiudeen.