Sri Lankan trade exhibition and food festival in Oman from 12-14 Feb.

Wednesday, 6 February 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka will hold its first trade exhibition and food festival in Oman to showcase Sri Lanka’s products and services to enhance the trade relations with the oil-rich Gulf country.

The first Sri Lankan Trade Exhibition and Food Festival will be held from 12 to 14 February at the Al Falaj Hotel in Muscat under the patronage of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.

The exhibition will also coincide with the celebrations of completing 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Over 30 Sri Lankan business firms and companies will exhibit a variety of products ranging from apparel, processed foods, tea, traveal and tourism, herbal and spa, floriculture, organic products, gem and jewellery, fruits and vegetables, hotel supplies, handloom products, and human resources, according to the organisers.

During the Food Festival celebrity Sri Lankan chefs flown in by Oman Hotels will prepare Sri Lankan cuisine for the attendees, while an award-winning traditional Sri Lankan dance troupe flown over especially for the event will provide entertainment during the festival.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Sultanate Asoka Girihagama has said that this trade show will be the first time Sri Lankan entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services in Oman.

“I believe Oman is a promising destination for Sri Lankan products and services. This will be an excellent opportunity for both countries to promote and expand bilateral trade relations, further. I am positive that this Exhibition will further strengthen the excellent relationship and increase bilateral trade between the Sultanate and Sri Lanka,” the Ambassador has said.

Oman imports mainly tea from Sri Lanka and also ceramics and desiccated coconut. Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Oman reached US$ 232 million in 2012. The exports from Oman to Lanka amounted to nearly $223 million while the imports to Oman accounted for only $9 million.