Sri Lanka draws strong crowds at Kunming trade show

Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery exhibitors and participants have drawn large crowds for their exhibits at the 19th China Import and Export Commodities Fair and fourth South Asian Nations’ Trade Fair, currently on in Kunming, China.

The South Asian countries’ trade fair is an annual regional trade show organised in parallel to the China Import and Export Fair known as the Kunming Fair and is limited to South Asian countries. This year’s fair started on 5 June and is set to end on 10 June.

Kunming is a known transportation hub in south-western China, located within the Yunnan Province. Lankan participation at this year’s Kunming show saw 100 exhibitors from the country.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, joined by Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and EDB Chairman Janaka Ratnayake, among others, took part in the inaugural ceremony along with Chinese leaders. Jayaratne also visited all exhibition pavilions at the show on 7 June, joined by Minister Bathiudeen.

“Sri Lanka’s participation in Kunming has been strengthening during the past few years. Our 50 plus exhibitors last year now stands at 100 participants,” Jayaratne said.

Bathiudeen moderated the China-South Asia Business Forum held concurrently, which was chaired by Jayaratne.

In March 2011 Vice Chairperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Huang Shah at a meeting with Bathiudeen announced that China would allocate a special area for Sri Lanka at this trade fair and also give 100 free booths for Sri Lankan exhibitors.

According to Bathiudeen, Sri Lanka’s export earnings from China went up by 50 per cent to US$ 80 million in 2010 from US$ 59 million from the previous year.